David Woodward (3)

The author describes in some detail the operation of the German navy in WW2 with reference to how its predecessor had behaved in WW1. Specifically the big gunships and the surface fleet, not the u-boats.

He rather absurdly argues its failure was due to not being large enough. He notes that Raeder did try to get maritime aviation brought under naval control, but failed.
The only thing Tirpitz and the others ever really achieved was to be "a fleet in being" and in so doing hampering Britsh operations. Causing losses in the Far East and in the Mediterranean because ships which might have been deployed were oblige to stay where they could contain the German surface fleet… (altro)