Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:05:01-2:05:42

Why China's pre-1947 naval investment had little wartime return

The panel judges the Republic of China's surface investment poorly matched to its wartime circumstances and argues that submarines offered more utility.

Maritime SecurityRepublic Of China NavySubmarinesWorld War II
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Question

Did the Republic of China make the right naval investments before 1947?

Short answer

No; its existing fleet had limited wartime value, while greater investment in submarines would have better suited its circumstances.

Notes

Before the war, much of the Republic of China's fleet supported anti-piracy and maritime order with British assistance. That mission made surface vessels useful in peacetime even though it did not prepare the navy for a major war against Japan. Once full-scale conflict arrived, the force structure produced little return because its ships were vulnerable and poorly matched to the theatre. The panel argues that a larger submarine arm would have been harder to neutralize and better suited to the operational problem.