Q&A · 2:49:05-2:49:10

Royal Navy night training versus night-fighting doctrine

The Royal Navy did conduct night training; the weakness lay in the doctrine guiding it, not in a complete absence of practice.

Naval Doctrine Naval Training Night Fighting Royal Navy

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Question

Did the Royal Navy neglect night training?

Short answer

No; it conducted night training, but its night-fighting doctrine was not especially strong.

Notes

The Royal Navy did train at night. The weakness lay in the doctrine guiding those exercises. Conducting practice does not by itself show that a navy has developed an effective way to fight. The exchange therefore separates the existence of training from the quality of the method being taught.