Fighting in the Dark - Naval Combat at Night 1904–1945

Any fight against a well-armed and competent adversary is a gruelling task, but when you’re fighting the darkness and fatique, the pressure mounts considerably. Vincent P O’Hara and Trent Hone are both well-respected naval historians with numerous books and articles to their names, and it was with this knowledge that I started reading this excellent book on how night-time naval manoeuvres were initially developed in the early years of the 20th century. Serving as editors, O’Hara and Hone brought together six authors, each an expert in their own field, to take a deep dive into the subject of ‘fighting in the dark.’ The years chosen were between 1904 and 1944, which allowed the authors free reign to see just how far and fast technological developments had progressed, particularly with the development and use of radar. Each chapter examines a specific time frame from the perspective of a particular navy and highlights how they chose to develop unique doctrines and tactics peculiar to their strategic situations. The first chapter was written by Stephen McLaughin who looks at the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 that saw the pivotal use of rapid-firing guns, torpedoes, searchlights and the development of radio. During this period lessons were learned about signals that could be confusing as well as how to control night battles. The second chapter analyses the German Navy in the first two years of the First World War where they chose to employ light cruisers in the role traditionally taken by destroyers, and how the German Navy wore down the Royal Navy through the use of minefields and torpedo assaults. The Royal Navy is the focus of James Goldrick’s chapter which covers the years between 1916 and the outbreak of the Second World War. In this chapter the author looks deeply into how the Royal Navy led the way in the development of star shells, flashless propellants and direction finding equipment. He postulates that it was between these years that the realisation emerged within the Admiralty that night fighting operations were not confined solely to fleet engagements such as Jutland and Dogger Bank, but could also affect individual ship engagements. Further chapters are authored by Enrico Cernuschi, Jonathon Purcell and Michael Whitby who analyse the naval actions at the Battle of Matapan, Guadalcanal, and the Battle of Ille de Batz in 1943-44 where British tactics were pivotal in combating the Kriegsmarine’s light forces at the western entrance to the English Channel through the establishment of dedicated onboard Action Information Centres, superior radars, intelligence and skilled leadership. Reading this book, one gets the sense of just how daunting and chaotic night actions are. It is a remarkable read and one that this reviewer struggled to put down.