Williamson MurrayMilitary Innovation in the Interwar Period

Book was in better condition than expected and arrived super fast!

This is a book that looks at a variety of important tactics between the wars. It also looks at the militaries that were involved with those tactics development. It also takes a look at how militaries innovate and why some succeed and others fail. It is a just read for any WW 2 fan. Any one in the military who works with change would get a lot out of the book. Also anyone working in a bureaucracy would also like it. It is very interesting from many perspectives: military, history, innovation, or how to affect change.

Perhaps the most important insight this book offers is that military innovation is considerably more complex than simply building better mouse traps. The authors clearly demonstrate that the research, development, testing and evaluation (RDTE) process needed to create a new or improved military system is only the first step in a complex process. For such a military system to be effective, there must be corresponding changes in the tactical and strategic doctrines, training, and organizational structures that reflect the capabilities and limitations of the new system.The history of military innovation in the twenty year period between WWI and WWII then is a complicated one filled with successes, failures, missed opportunities and brilliant theorizing. To begin with few soldiers really believed that WWI was a "war to end all wars" as did some of the more idealistic politicians of the time. They therefore begin a scramble to understand the lessons and innovations that were the result of that war. Within the ground forces serious efforts were made to understand the implications of mechanization, especially armored fighting vehicles (AFV) and motor transport, for a future war. In a similar manner the air forces struggled to understand the demonstrated capabilities of the airplane for close ground support, air superiority, and most importantly strategic bombing. The navies of the world had to struggle with the role of submarines in future wars as well as the challenges and opportunities of naval aviation as represented by aircraft carriers, float planes and the need for long range reconnaissance. All services were deeply affected as well by the clear utility of wireless radio and soon other electronic breakthroughs.Perhaps the most interesting chapter of the book is titled , "Assault from the Sea" which really concerns the efforts by the U.S., Japan, and to a lesser extent the UK to develop the doctrines, technology, and organizational structure to conduct large scale amphibious warfare. In this case the examples from WWI served only as the starting points for some very original work. And it was the U.S. Marine Corp that took the lead in this work, in spite of severe fiscal restraints.In spite of some weak spots this book provides valuable information on the thinking of the military and civilian visonaries of the principal participants of WWII as they attempted to build modern military forces.

This book was written as a study to draw attention to the decisions at the various levels of warfare (tactical, operational, and strategic) that led to success and failure of those countries involved in WWII. Before reading this book I would watch WWII movies wondering why certain tactics were not being utilized. Well, this book answers many of those questions and a whole lot more. Great Read, in-depth study, and well researched as it provides invaluable incite of how innovation influenced operations on land, in the air, and at sea.

This is a series of essays. You don't have to read the entire book. The essay on interwar innovation in carrier aviation in particular shows the importance of innovation and outlines critical factors in the success or failure of American, British, and Japanese carrier aviation in World War II. The principles are easily transferred to any organization even if the specifics vary.

A collection of essays on Military developments amongst the future major combatants of WW2.Specifics are slim,more of a conceptual study,and decidedly dry in places.Reads more like a college text book at the service academies.

A great series of essays on topics with clear parallels today. The examination of choices made within the national strategy, bureaucratic institutions and service inertia is very refreshing.

If you even have a modest interest in military history or in how the interpretation (or misinterpretation) of history can and in fact was used to shape the outcome of a major global event (WWII) then you will find this book very interesting.