The Navy as a Fighting Machine

Bradley A. Fiske treats a navy as a coordinated system whose value depends on preparation, organization and sound decisions. Writing as a rear admiral, he sets out to explain its purpose and composition in language accessible to readers beyond the service. His opening discussion places armed forces within the history of nations, arguing that military strength has repeatedly shaped their relations. Chapters then address naval power, defense, policy and the practical demands of readiness.

The strategic sections turn to fleet design, reserves, shore stations, bases and operations. In discussing public spending, Fiske examines how congressional decisions determine ships and officer numbers, then connects good judgment with weighing the many factors in a problem. Drawings, fleet observation and game boards become aids to clear thinking. Readers interested in naval history can use this study to see how an officer understood the relationship between resources, training and strategy in the period of his 1916 preface.