This was in keeping with the theory of Alfred Thayer Mahan, a doctrine to which every major navy subscribed before World War II, in which wars would be decided by engagements between opposing surface fleets (as they had been for over 300 years).
Sesuai dengan teori Alfred Thayer Mahan, sebuah doktrin yang setiap angkatan laut besar sebelum Perang Dunia II, di mana perang diputuskan oleh perjanjian antara armada yang berlawanan (selama lebih dari 300 tahun).