Publication:RAN Reading List March 2006/Leadership and Command
Leadership
by John Horsfield published by McGraw-Hill, New York and Sydney, 2005
This book offers battle-proven, step-by-step guidelines for instilling leadership in almost anyone. Today, more than ever, the RAN needs leaders with a rare blend of strength, capability, and integrity. Unfortunately, they're not always easy to come by. Becoming a Leader the Annapolis Way details how the US Naval Academy builds quality leaders from the ground up, instilling in them the habits and tools required for outstanding leadership in any pursuit. Using real-life vignettes and examples of US Naval Academy graduates who experienced breakthrough success in combat, government, and business, this timely book looks beyond just the military aspects to explore: techniques for teaching honour, duty, and commitment; empowerment strategies proven to work over centuries of use; and insights for overcoming the perils of blind obedience.
edited by Karel Montor published by Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 2nd edn., 1998
This book is compiled with the premise that leaders are trained and made, not born. It offers a wealth of advice from successful naval officers about the principles and practices of good naval leadership. The compartmentalisation between specific leadership skills, qualities, and practices is somewhat artificial, for leadership is a holistic enterprise, but such an organised format allows the reader to proceed at their own pace and begin reading from any section that interests them. This book is not about sequential mastery, but serves as a reference and resource. It is great for junior officers who want to absorb the ideals of leadership, and would benefit hardened naval veterans who desire a return to leadership first principles and rejuvenate their professional outlook.
edited by the US Naval Academy, Department of Leadership and Law published by Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1984
This fundamental text on the principles of naval leadership covers many topics of interest to naval officers, including motivational theory, small group dynamics, qualities of leadership, performance evaluation, counselling, training, and case studies.
by John Horsfield published by Greenwood Press, London, 1980
There is a large corpus of literature on leadership, particularly in an army context. While this is useful for any Defence Force officer it is refreshing for the subject to be examined in a naval context. While there are many constants in leadership, the requirements of a naval leader are different to those from other services. Horsfield examines leadership in the Royal Navy over two centuries concluding at the end of WWII. He concentrates on renowned wartime naval leaders: St Vincent, Collingwood, Nelson, Jellicoe, Beatty and Cunningham amongst others. Not only does the book examine their leadership styles, strengths and weakness in great detail, it sets the whole subject in the context of the times in which these leaders lived. One of Horsfield's conclusions is that while very good leaders may be trained, the greatest talent is innate: the right person in the right place at the right time. He qualifies this in one very important sense;the greatest leadership cannot overcome overwhelming systemic deficiencies. If the people being led, from the most junior seaman to the second in command, are not highly capable then there is little any leader can do. It is therefore not surprising that many of the Royal Navy's greatest names appear in the second half of the 18th century and early l9th century when the Royal Navy was reaching the height of its powers.
The Art of Leadership
by S. W. Roskill published by Collins, London, 1964
Captain Roskill presents his views on naval leadership, essentially now a classic on how the Royal Navy maintained its position in society before it was affected by the cultural changes of the 1960s. Many topics discussed in this book, such as command and the mastery of language, remain relevant today, while others may once again become fashionable in the future.
The Mask of Command
by John Keegan published by Viking, New York, 1987
John Keegan asks us to consider questions that are seldom asked: What makes a great military leader? Why is it that men, indeed sometimes entire nations, follow a single leader, often to victory, but with equal dedication also to defeat? From a wide array, Keegan chooses four commanders who profoundly influenced the course of history:Alexander the Great, the Duke of Wellington, Ulysses S. Grant and Adolph Hitler. All powerful leaders, each cast in a different mould, each with diverse results.
So Now You're a Leader: 10 Precepts of Practical Leadership
by P. Stokes and J. James published by McGraw-Hill, Sydney, 2000
A readable and concise introduction to the subject, suitable for all levels of management and leadership, from the coal-face to the board room. So Now You're a Leader bridges the gap between leadership theory and the day-to-day reality of being a leader. It is full of practical, factual examples and anecdotes that can easily be related to the precepts espoused in the book, and to current theories that are otherwise often presented in a dry and complex manner.
Psychology of Command
On the Psychology of Military Incompetence
by Norman Dixon published by Jonathan Cape, London, 1976 (also numerous reprints)
Dixon was a major in the Royal Artillery who served in WWII and Korea before training as a psychologist. This seminal work examines the psychological causes of military incompetence as evidenced in a number of key military leaders of the 20th century. The first half of the book is devoted to battles or campaigns in which incompetent generalship contributed to defeat or disaster for the troops involved.
On Killing: the Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society
by David Grossman published by Little Brown, Boston, 1995
Lieutenant Colonel Grossman, a psychologist and former US Army Ranger and paratrooper, looks at the psychological cost of learning to kill in the military society. A paradox of modern warfare is that the vast majority of soldiers are unwilling to kill in battle. From the 18th century until WWII, historically only 15-20 percent of combat infantry fired their weapons at the enemy. Using psychological conditioning processes modern armies have developed ways of overcoming this inbuilt aversion. In Korea the figure of combat firers rose to 50 percent, and in Vietnam to over 90 percent; however, the psychological cost of overcoming the natural aversion to killing other humans, as demonstrated by the dramatic increase in post-traumatic stress, is devastating. The psychological cost to society in general is even higher, as many contemporary social processes, particularly the media, replicate military desensitising techniques. According to Grossman, this conditioning of society is responsible for the rising rate of murder, particularly amongst the young.
The Code of the Warrior
by Shannon E. French published by Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland, February, 2003
This dense, absorbing and valuable book studies the ethics governing warriors throughout history. French, a professor of philosophy and ethics at the US Naval Academy, believes
that the warrior needs an ethical framework not only to be an effective fighter but to remain a human being and even to save his or her soul. By taking us on a tour of warrior cultures and their values French searches for a code for the warriors of today, as they do battle in asymmetric conflicts against unconventional forces and global terrorism.
Horatio Nelson
by Tom Pocock published by Pimlico, London, 1994
Some familiarity with the career of Horatio Nelson is essential for any naval officer, if only because his name has become a byword for genius in leadership and tactical ability. There was, however, much more, and in some ways less, to Nelson than this. Nelson did not invent the tactics or create the ships with which he was so successful. His fame comes from the brilliance with which he utilised them. It is therefore necessary to appreciate the strength of the Royal Navy during the 18th and l9th centuries. Nelson represents the epitome of a naval commander at the tactical and operational levels. His affair with Emma Hamilton, however, caused much adverse comment. The combination in Nelson of unparalleled capabilities and everyday weakness is but one facet of an intriguing life. Tom Pocock is a well regarded biographer and his account of Nelson's life is well written, thoroughly researched and very interesting.
Destroyer Man
by John Alliston published by Greenhouse Publications, Richmond, 1985
John Alliston joined the Royal Navy in 1927. He served mainly in destroyers and cruisers and had considerable experience with the RAN. During WWII he had extensive experience in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Pacific Theatres, commanding the destroyers HM Ships Decoy, Janus, Javelin, Urania and HMAS Warramunga. He lists his time in command of Warramunga as his most enjoyable period of naval service. Alliston was also the Executive Officer of HMAS Shropshire after she was handed over to the RAN. Shortly after the war he retired from active service and moved to Australia. Destroyer Man contains many interesting stories of Alliston's naval service and his time in destroyers. Although numerous facets of naval service have changed, much of the culture remains the same.
Carrier Pilot
by Norman Hanson published by Futura Publications, London, 1980
Norman Hanson was a Naval Volunteer Reservist during WWII, who flew Corsair fighters off the British carrier HMS Illustrious. This is his account of his war service, from joining up, through his training in Britain and the United States, to operations in the Mediterranean and then with the British Pacific Fleet. It is an excellent book; often funny, sometimes sad and very difficult to put down. Hanson writes very well and leaves the reader with an excellent impression of what life was like for carrier aircrew.
by Chris Coulthard-Clark published by the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering,
Sydney University, Sydney, 2002.
Never heard of Vice Admiral Sir William Clarkson, RAN? If not, then you are not alone. Clarkson was a contemporary of Vice Admiral Sir William Creswell in the South Australian Colonial Navy, and was Chief Engineer of the gunboat Protector. He was also 3rd Naval Member of the Naval Board and Head of Naval Engineering in the fledgling Australian Navy, Director of the Commonwealth Small Arms Factory at Lithgow, Director of Transports during WW1, chair of the Commonwealth Shipping Board, provider of the location and layout of HMAS Cerberus, and the second Australian naval officer to be promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral. Few RAN personnel are familiar with Clarkson, yet his role in developing the RAN was equally as crucial as that of Creswell. A slim volume but very interesting.
Battleship Bismark: A Survivor's Story
by Baron Burkard von Mullenheim-Rechburg published by Triad/Granada, London, 1982
The Bismarck is one of the most famous warships of the 20th century, by virtue of her role in sinking HMS Hood, the focus of Britain's interwar pride and confidence in the Royal Navy. Many myths about the Bismarck have grown up as a result of its brief and mixed career. Principal among these is that it was unsinkable. Bismarck was superbly built to a highly subdivided but antiquated design, with the result that, although very difficult to sink, she did not withstand action damage very well. The author was one of Bismarck's officers and the senior survivor. His description of service in the battleship is excellent, and although his sympathies obviously lie in favour of his ship, the book is by no means unbalanced. This is one of the classic accounts of action during WWII.
by Hiroyuki Agawa published by Kodansha International, Tokyo, 1979
Isoruku Yamamoto was one of the most perceptive strategic thinkers in Japan prior to WWII. He believed in the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to inflict serious damage on Britain and the United States but recognised that the United States military potential far exceeded Japan's. In the event of a war between Japan and the United States, Yamamoto believed there would be little hope for Japanese victory. That his desire to avoid war with the United States in particular did not eventuate was mainly the result of the highly polarised nature of Japanese politics in the late 1930s. Nonetheless, when war did come he was the architect of a great portion of Japan's success. Agawa's biography of Yamamoto is worth reading for several reasons. It gives a good account of some of the political processes in interwar Japan and the place, which the Imperial Japanese Navy filled. Its exposition of the Imperial Navy's culture is also very interesting. Finally, Yamamoto is one of the outstanding naval leaders of this century. In Japan his reputation is exceeded only by those of Togo, and, almost inevitably, Nelson.
Admiral Arleigh Burke: A Biography
by E.B. Potter published by Random House, New York, 1990
Arleigh Burke is one of very few Admirals who was successful in both war and peace. He joined the United States Navy in 1919, and progressed to command the destroyer USS Mugford in the late 1930s, gaining a reputation for gunnery. Prior to the US entry into WWII, however, Burke was posted as an inspector to the Washington Naval Yard. In early 1943, after much agitation on his own part, Burke was posted to command a destroyer division in the South West Pacific Theatre. He became a nationally recognised figure because of his success there during 1943 becoming known as '31 knot Burke' in recognition of the pace of one particular action. In 1944 he was posted as Chief of Staff to Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher, Commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force, were he was once again a success. Subsequently he held a variety of important jobs and played a significant role during the Korean War, but it was his three consecutive terms as the Chief of Naval Operations, which set Burke apart. When first selected, Burke was promoted ahead of 91 other senior officers. During his six years as CNO he presided over the introduction of nuclear propulsion and submarine ballistic missiles. In 1989 the USS Arleigh Burke was named after him, just recognition of his enormous contribution to the USN.
Rickover
by Norman Polmar and Thomas B. Allen published by Simon and Schuster, New York, 1982
Of all the Admirals of the 20th century, Hyman G. Rickover is paralleled only by Jackie Fisher in the extent to which they fundamentally changed their respective services outside a world war. They also match each other in the degree to which they polarised opinion of themselves; both were visionaries who brooked no opposition, creating implacable enemies matched only by staunch supporters with very little middle ground. Rickover's achievements are possibly the greater of the two, spanning the United States Navy and the US Atomic Energy Commission. He was the driving force in making nuclear power a possibility for ship propulsion and power generation. Rickover's career is interesting, not only for the man himself, but for way it illustrates the interaction between institutions and reformers.
by Stephen Roskill published by Atheneum Press, New York, 1980
Beatty is one of the outstanding characters of the Royal Navy in the early 20th century. He spent most of WWI at sea, first as the Commander of the Battle Cruiser Fleet and then as the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet. Following the war he was the First Sea Lord for eight years, a term of almost unprecedented length. Beatty inspired in his subordinates and the public the kind of adulation the Royal Navy had not seen since Nelson. His involvement in the Battle of Jutland, marriage to a spectacularly wealthy American widow, affair with the wife of another naval officer, and tenure as First Sea Lord are just four of the ingredients in a fascinating life.
Fraser of North Cape
by Richard Humble published by Routledge and Keegan Paul, London, 1983
Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser is one of the most successful naval leaders of the 20th century, and one who is remembered as a true gentleman. A deep gunnery specialist, he saw service in WWI, the Russian Civil War and WWII. He commanded the British Forces at the Battle of North Cape, where British covering forces conducted the last action between capital ships of the British and German navies. He was then appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Pacific Fleet, the most powerful Royal Navy armada ever, and as a result spent most of 1944-45 in Sydney, the fleet's base. Fraser became First Sea Lord after WWII. Humble's biography is an excellent portrait of an admirable naval leader.
Donitz: The Last Fuhrer, Portrait of a Nazi War Leader
by Peter Padfield published by Victor Gollancz, London, 1984
Karl Donitz was a central figure in the German Navy during WWII. Prior to the war he was the leading figure in the redevelopment of German U-Boats, taking an active interest in U-boat tactics, design and numbers. The success of the U-Boat arm during WWII brought him to prominence in the German High Command, and when Hitler sacked Erich Raeder as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Donitz was appointed to replace him. He served in this capacity until immediately prior to the end of the war when, in a curious turn of events, before committing suicide Hitler appointed him as his successor as German Head of State. Donitz was tried at Nuremburg and received a ten year prison sentence for his part in the German war crimes. Released in 1955 he remained a fascinating but forlorn figure, much admired by those who had served under him. Padfield's biography of Donitz is well written covering his professional service as a naval officer and involvement in the Nazi war regime. Although it covers his whole life Donitz:The Last Fuhrer concentrates on the period from the mid-1930s onwards and is an excellent illustration of the technical, political and moral demands which were made on the members of the German armed forces during WWII.
The First Sea Lords: from Fisher to Mountbatten
edited by Malcolm H. Murfett published by Praeger, Westport, Connecticut, 1995
The First Sea Lord is the professional head of the Royal Navy; it is, without doubt, the most influential position within the Service. The role of the incumbents in shaping and guiding the Royal Navy is crucial. This book examines the tenure of the eighteen men who occupied this position between 1904 and 1959, arguably the most tumultuous years in the history of the Royal Navy. It is well written and includes chapters by one current and one former RAN officer. The First Sea Lords is valuable for the light it casts on a crucial part of the naval service.
by Geoffrey Lowis
published by Putnam, London, 1957
This book is a collection of stories about life in the Royal Navy and some of the exploits of its more eccentric officers during the late l9th and early 20th centuries. It is a useful illustration of the extent to which society and the Navy have changed during this century. By the same token it also explains some of the traditions which remain today-Ceremonial Sunsets is one example; however, the purpose of Fabulous Admirals is not serious and it should be approached in a similarly light hearted manner.
Military Biographies
Not as a Duty Only: an Infantryman's War
by Henry ('Jo') Gullett published by Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1976
The 'ANZAC Spirit' of Australian armed forces has its origin primarily in the actions of army formations, the infantry in particular. Though it sprang from WWI at Gallipoli, it was strongly reinforced by the battles fought by the Second Australian Imperial Force during WWII. Not as a Duty Only is 'Jo' Gullett's account of his part in that conflict, his motivations and attitudes. It imparts some understanding of the Australian society of the time. Above all, it is a superb account of men in conflict.
Having Been a Soldier
by Colin Mitchell published by Mayflower Books, London, 1970
An unconventional and often controversial leader, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Mitchell, after serving in WW2 and Korea, where he was decorated for gallantry, commanded the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the British withdrawal from Aden. When his regiment assumed responsibility for patrolling the town of Crater, the secessionist terrorists, aided by the Aden police, were effectively in control, and British patrols were regularly ambushed and killed. Within weeks, through the use of aggressive military and diplomatic tactics Mitchell neutralised the terrorists; however, Mitchell's approach did not find favour with the Foreign Office and increasingly restrictions were placed on the use of force against the terrorists, resulting in renewed British casualties. After the withdrawal from Aden, Government pressure forced Mitchell to resign to save his unit from amalgamation. Mitchell then went on to become a war correspondent in Vietnam. Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell's autobiography presents some valuable ideas on military leadership, and highlights the potential effect of politics, public service interference and diplomacy on military operations.
Larrey: Surgeon to Napoleon's Imperial Guard
by R.G. Richardson published by John Murray, London, 1974
Baron Larrey can justifiably be considered the father of modern military medicine. Larrey joined the French revolutionary armies as a young surgeon, coming to the attention of the youngGeneral Napoleon Bonaparte. Heaccompanied Napoleon on many campaigns,rising to become Chief Surgeon of the Grand Army. Larry revolutionised combat surgery, introducing the battlefield ambulance to allow for the rapid evacuation of the wounded to field surgeries. He developed methods of swift and effective field amputations, and attention to hygiene and wound care that substantially reduced the post combat mortality rate. Despite the great esteem in which he was held by Napoleon, Larrey did not receive the honours and riches that were showered on many of the Emperor's followers, and he struggled against poverty to raise his family. A fascinating account of a great military innovator.
The Edge of the Sword
by Anthony Farrar-Hockley published by Star Books, London, 1954
The Edge of the Sword is, the then, Captain Anthony Farrar-Hockley's account of his participation in, and incarceration during, the Korean War. He was the Adjutant of the First Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment at the Battle of the Imjin River in 1951. Despite an outstanding display of courage and tenacity in a battle lasting four days the Glosters were overwhelmed by superior numbers and the survivors surrendered into captivity. The bulk of the book is devoted to the author's description of his time as a prisoner of war, which included five unsuccessful escape attempts and exceptional hardships. It is an excellent account of a very unpleasant and unglamorous side of war.
