Andrew Boyd's account contrasts retrospective descriptions of Anglo-American war as unthinkable with British planning undertaken in 1919. The theoretical possibility remained in naval work for years, and American planning against Britain continued longer. Clarke offers a training explanation: preparing against the strongest other fleet gives a staff a demanding problem and makes smaller opponents easier to assess. Hypothetical planning also supplied arguments against Treasury cuts. A plan therefore requires its political, institutional and training context before it can be treated as evidence that war was expected.
Notable Point · 2:36:07-2:37:38
Contingency planning can test a staff without predicting war
Planning against the largest other fleet can provide a demanding staff exercise even when conflict is regarded as unlikely.