Amphibious Warfare in the Eighteenth Century: The British Expedition to the West Indies 1740-42: v. 62 (Royal Historical Society Studies in History) - Hardcover

Harding, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0861932188 ISBN 13: 9780861932184

Publisher: Royal Historical Society, 1991

Synopsis

Since the sixteenth century, amphibious warfare has been central toBritish strategy, and has coloured British political and culturalattitudes to this day. Received ideas about such warfare are largelybased on analysis of successful operations. This book examines failure:an expedition to the West Indies in 1740l 1742 which ended intotal disaster. Detailed examination of both public and private papersreveals that the expedition was in fact carefully planned and executed,but was doomed to failure because of the impossibility of mobilisingadequate military resources within the constraints of contemporarypolitical and social conditions. This new assessment of a much neglectedevent in mid-eighteenth century history provides valuable insightinto how combined amphibious operations were conducted in the pre-industrial world, and the conditions necessary for their success.RICHARD HARDINGis senior lecturer in history at Harrow Collegeof Higher Education.

About this title

Review:

An excellent account of the campaign in the West Indies [and] much of value on British administration and an assessment of British amphibious operations in European and Caribbean waters throughout the century. HISTORYA sophisticated argument, based on solid research and judicious reflection; an example of what can and should be done in naval history nowadays. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW `A major contribution to the understanding of combined operations and of the nature of eighteenth-century warfare.'ARCHIVES

Synopsis:

Since the 16th century, amphibious warfare has been central to British strategy; the thinking behind it and the way it was conducted colour British political and cultural attitudes to this day. Received ideas about such warfare are largely based on detailed analysis of successful operations. This book examines failure - an expedition to the West Indies in 1740-1742 which ended in total disaster, usually blamed on inept political direction, poor organisation, and the incompetence of the land commander, Major-General Thomas Wentworth. Detailed examination of both public and private papers reveals that the expedition was in fact carefully planned and executed, but was doomed to failure because of the impossibility of mobilising adequate military resources within the constraints of contemporary political and social conditions. This assessment of a relatively unknown event in mid-eighteenth century history provides valuable insight into how combined amphibious operations were conducted in the pre-industrial world, and the conditions necessary for their success. It is the starting point for a re-examination of the whole nature of amphibious warfare in the period 1689-1815.

About this edition

• Publisher: Royal Historical Society
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0861932188
• ISBN 13: 9780861932184
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 258