Two institutional failures show how persuasion shaped British war planning. Before the First World War, a Royal Navy without an Admiralty staff failed to present its plans persuasively enough, leaving the Army to run much of the war-gaming process. Before the Second World War, the Air Ministry weakened its standing by assigning the Army and Navy supporting roles without consulting them. Aircraft had great future potential, but that did not make the other services mere adjuncts under current conditions. War plans, maintenance, training, and force preparation had to use capabilities available now, while procurement plans could aim at systems expected to mature five or ten years later.
Notable Point · 5:55-7:41
War plans had to rest on current capability
Admiralty and Air Ministry planning failures show why present war plans could not rest on capabilities promised by future procurement.