Lessons Not Learned: The U.S. Navy's Status Quo CultureDespite its reputation as the most impressive naval force in the world, the U.S. Navy is in trouble, according to the author of this book, and systemic weaknesses could be its undoing. Here, military sociologist Roger Thompson provides a compelling, often scathing, assessment of the U.S. Navy and its learning disabilities and then presents a convincing argument for reform. Thompson points to the U.S. Navy's "up or out" promotion system, massive personnel turnover, inexperienced crews, and drug and alcohol abuse as problems that make it difficult for the Navy to build cohesive, well-trained fighting units. In a review of the Navy's recent history, he finds that its ships, submarines, and aircraft are often outperformed in competitions and exercises with other navies—and its failures are either denied altogether or perfunctorily excused. Diesel submarines—so quiet that they are rarely detected until it's too late to prevent an attack—routinely surpass expensive U.S. nuclear subs and put U.S. aircraft carriers in danger. American naval pilots, whose weapons are often improperly tested, are frequently bested by military pilots from other countries. Because the U.S. Navy doesn't have enough surface ships to protect its capital ships, American carrier strike groups now use Canadian ships as escorts. Shortcomings like these, Thompson argues, undermine the Navy's potential and should be cause for national concern. In presenting a side of the U.S. Navy that's rarely discussed, this book spells out lessons the Navy must learn if it is going to succeed in an era of asymmetrical warfare—of David-versus-Goliath conflicts. In his conclusion, the author puts forth a twelve-step program that calls on the U.S. Navy to rethink its naval strategy, to lose some weight, and to focus on the fundamentals. |
Contents
Diesel Subs and Mines Take On the US Navy | |
A Lucky Break at Midway and the BigCarrier Navy | |
The Russians Mug the Kitty Hawk the Saratoga the Constellation the Carl | |
Know Thy Potential Enemy | |
This Isnt Top Gunand Watch Out for the Little | |
Lack of Training Overrated Technology Bad Policies and Technocratic | |
Morale Issues Racism Drugs Sabotage and Related Matters | |
What Tom Clancy Does Not Know or Wont Tell | |
Conclusion | |
Notes | |
Bibliography | |
Index | |
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Lessons Not Learned: The U.S. Navy's Status Quo Culture Roger Thompson (M.A.) No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
Admiral air combat aircraft carriers allies American submarine antisubmarine Atlantic attack Australian battle group battleship boat British Canada Canadian Forces Canadian Navy capable Capt carrier battle group Commander Compton-Hall crew cruise Defense destroyer detected diesel submarines drug enemy escort exercise fight fighter pilots fleet flying Hornet Ibid Israelis Japan Japanese Kitty Hawk Knuth Michael Midway missiles naval aviators Naval Institute Proceedings Naval War College Navy pilots nuclear submarine Operation Operation Drumbeat Pacific percent personnel planes radar Report Robert Royal Canadian Navy Royal Navy Russian sailors Scott Shuger September skipper sonar Spector squadron submarine USS sunk supercarriers surface ships tactics targets Tom Clancy Top Gun torpedo U-boats U.S. Air Force U.S. carriers U.S. military U.S. naval U.S. Navy U.S. Navy officers U.S. Navy’s U.S. nuclear U.S. ships United USN Ret victory Vietnam warfare warships Washington Washington Monthly weapons World WorldNetDaily York Zumwalt