Q&A ยท 10:30-11:18

Finding reliable studies of Spanish naval doctrine

A question about doctrine under Alfonso XII, Alfonso XIII and the intervening regency leads to a caution about claims of Spanish priority.

Question

Are there good books on Spanish naval doctrine under Alfonso XII, Alfonso XIII and the regency between them?

Short answer

No firm recommendation is offered; one Spanish-language work prompts a warning to distinguish independent development from being first.

Notes

No firm recommendation is made for the requested period. One unnamed Spanish-language work is criticized for claiming priority for developments that other navies were already using. Independent, convergent development remains possible, and the criticism does not establish copying. The point is to check dates before accepting a claim that a navy introduced an idea to the world.