Corbett: A Man Before His Time

Authors

  • Lieutenant Commander Ian C.D. Moffat Department of National Defence

Abstract

Sir Julian Corbett was a British Maritime Strategist who developed his theories on Command of the Sea at the same time as the US Naval Strategist Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan. Using historical research as a basis for his theories, Corbett demonstrated that trade was an integral dimension of Maritime Strategy and that Command of the Sea was for the ultimate purpose of protecting trade. Many of Corbett’s ideas were drawn from Von Clasewitz, the German military strategist, and adapted to the maritime environment. His basic supposition that Maritime Strategy must ultimately support military or army strategy which must be based on national policy continues to the present to be sound.

Author Biography

Lieutenant Commander Ian C.D. Moffat, Department of National Defence

LCdr Ian Moffat is presently a Staff Officer with the Director General of Strategic Planning working in the Directorate of Defence Analysis at National Defence Headquarters. His present duties include helping to develop the future strategic outlook of Canada’s Armed Forces. LCdr Moffat is a native of Montreal and received his BSc in Biochemistry from McGill and his MA in War Studies from Royal Military College of Canada. He has been a serving officer in the Canadian Navy, both the Reserve and Regular components, since 1971. LCdr Moffat has served at sea as a weapons officer in the Canadian destroyers St. Croix, Athabaskan and Annapolis. He most recently served at sea as the Executive Officer of HMCS Huron. He is a specialist in ammunition and explosives and has a sub-speciality in software development. LCdr Moffat currently resides in Ottawa with his wife and two sons.

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Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2001): Winter 2000/Spring 2001

Section

Articles