Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:00:21-1:01:38

Fisher wanted fear of war to prevent war

Fisher's aggressive language did not reflect a love of war. He wanted the Royal Navy to seem so dangerous that opponents would avoid fighting it.

John FisherNaval DeterrenceNaval StrategyRoyal Navy
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Question

Did Fisher's deterrence work because opponents feared he might actually carry out his threats?

Short answer

Yes, but Fisher hated war and cultivated a frightening Royal Navy precisely to make war less likely.

Notes

A viewer suggests that nobody wanted to test whether Jackie Fisher would carry out his threats. Fisher might have acted, but he hated war. His objective was to make conflict with the Royal Navy appear so terrible and the service so ferocious that no opponent would choose it. The exchange presents intimidation as a deterrent posture intended to prevent the fighting it threatened.