Overview

A fleet in being is a military strategy for a naval force that influences events because of its location and size without engaging in direct action. The sheer existence and potential threat of the fleet is enough to alter enemy operations and policy, acting as a deterrent and limiting the enemy's offensive capabilities. Deterrence and Denial includes eighteen case studies, ranging from the late seventeenth century to the present that showcase the operational and strategic effectiveness of a fleet in being. Highlighted is the deterrent value of navies-what a fleet in being prevents from occurring in peacetime-as well as what it denies enemies in wartime. Each chapter is written by a prominent historian who explores the concept of fleet in being in historical and geographic contexts to demonstrate what the strategy has accomplished.

Full Product Details

9781682478868

Table of Contents

Reviews

""This book on “fleet in being” is one we have needed for a long time. Unlike armies and air forces, even weaker navies can influence opponents strategically, shaping their thinking to avoid war, or operationally, by preventing combat at sea from taking place. Strategists need to know what fleet in being means, and these chapters offer crucial case studies for them. Historians will appreciate the unique compilation of well-researched and consequential examples in Deterrence and Denial, drawn from over ten nations and across five centuries."" —Randy Papadopoulos, PhD, strategist, Washington, DC   ""A brilliant and sweeping historical analysis of a topic of great relevance to our increasingly complex and dangerous world. It is worthy of study by all those who seek to understand the value of maritime forces and their fleets in being."" —Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley, USN (Ret.), former president of the U.S. Naval War College   “Professor Paine has produced a real historical tour de force with Deterrence and Denial. Ranging from the wooden-sided fleets of the 17th century to the space-assisted ones of today, the book demonstrates convincingly that how one creates and maintains one’s fleets in being can play a decisive role in shaping the behavior of adversaries. For those interested in the navies of the United States and China today, it should be mandatory reading.”—Professor Phillips O'Brien, University of St. Andrews    

Author Information

S. C. M. Paine taught in the Strategy & Policy Department of the U.S. Naval War College from 2000 to 2025. Professor Paine's publications include five naval books coedited with Bruce A. Elleman on blockades, commerce raiding, coalitions, expeditionary warfare, and nonmilitary uses of navies. Other publications include The Japanese Empire and The Wars for Asia, 19111949. Paine holds a PhD in Russian and Chinese history from Columbia University. She lives in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available