Naval Warfare

Although naval warfare is as it sounds (a war fought amidst a large body of water), naval warfare tactics may not be quite as obvious. Almost every country across the world has some form of a navy, and successful naval combat is crucial to almost any fight.

The concept of a naval fleet is not a new one, and its principles extend all the back to the dark ages – almost 3,000 years of naval combat can be traced throughout history. Great leaders throughout time have utilized their position near or on the sea in order to gain a stronger foothold against their opponents.

Historians have found records dating back to the barbarian invasions that detail battles fought within the Adriatic Sea. Following the barbarians, the Byzantine Navy is one of the most memorable naval fleets relating to their conflict with the 7th century Arab fleets. From there, many other accounts of naval fleets saving the day can be found woven through history, and naval combat is just as important today.

Currently, naval warfare consists largely of a hide-and-seek game. It is crucial that one side not view the other while trying to scope out enemy naval positions. The navy heavily depends upon the term “fire and movement,” which can only occur if the enemy has not spotted attacking ships. Once a fleet of enemy ships is spotted, submarines can then emerge in order to attack, but up until that point, all that lives beneath the sea must remain quiet in order for a successful ambush to occur.

Any country that does not have some portion of the ocean is a country with a large disadvantage. Naval warfare is one of the most important aspects of any military operation, and nearly every country has learned to fight amidst rolling tides and red skies.