Naval War College Review Volume 57 Article 31 Number 1 Winter

2004 Patrick Blackett: Sailor, Scientist, Socialist, Chris Eldridge

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Recommended Citation Eldridge, Chris (2004) "Patrick Blackett: Sailor, Scientist, Socialist,," Naval War College Review: Vol. 57 : No. 1 , Article 31. Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol57/iss1/31

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understanding with the Soviet Union (a he was the heart and soul of the Cold position favored by some influential War military-academic-industrial com- opinions in the United States) nor to cre- plex. In this book, sixteen authors at- ate trouble for the French government, tempt to shed light on Blackett’s role in seemingly both dependent on and threat- that story. The collection includes pa- ened by the French Communist Party. pers presented at a 1998 conference The Soviet-menace card was played on commemorating Blackett at Cambridge several occasions in the unfolding de- University, as well as other recent writ- bate, but in general it was subordinated ings about him. to more abstract arguments of enlight- Not surprisingly, the compendium of- ened self-interest. Moreover, it was fers a range of perspectives on events clear to many in the administration that and issues with which Blackett was as- too great an emphasis on the immi- sociated, rather than a comprehensive nence of war with Russia would scuttle examination of his life and work. The both the recovery program and univer- articles are arranged in roughly chrono- sal military training in favor of a gen- logical order, but there is otherwise lit- eral wartime mobilization. In effect, tle integration among them—a although Soviet pressures certainly pro- characteristic only exacerbated by vided the needed ingredient for legisla- Blackett’s wide-ranging interests and tive success, they also had the potential expertise. However, it is clear that an to divert the country from the recovery integrated whole was not the editor’s program itself. Later events would ulti- goal. Instead, Hore’s intent was to aug- mately modify the balance between eco- ment the inadequate body of literature nomic assistance and military on Blackett by encouraging new research mobilization—but that is another story, on him and publishing the results. beyond the scope of this fine book. After an opening overview of Blackett’s Finally, it should be noted that Bonds youth, compiled from Blackett’s own has the ability to tell a story clearly, at autobiographical notes, the book cov- times even breezily, and analyze with- ers his education in the Royal Navy’s out cumbersome jargon. For clarity and preparatory school system, his service sophistication, this is likely to be a stan- as a naval officer during World War I, dard reference for some time to come. and his post-secondary and graduate education in physics at Cambridge ROBERT S. WOOD Salt Lake City, Utah University under the tutelage of Sir Ernest Rutherford. After a summary of Blackett’s contribution to Britain’s war preparation efforts during the 1930s, several chapters are devoted to his war-

Hore, Peter, ed. Patrick Blackett: Sailor, Scientist, time work on defense science, technol- Socialist. Portland, Ore.: Frank Cass, 2003. 330pp. ogy, and policy. This material addresses $59.50 his widely acknowledged leadership in the field of operational research and the Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett was a ways in which that research contributed key member of the international circle to high-level disputes over convoying of scientists who led the Allied defense strategy and strategic-bombing policy. research efforts of World War II, and

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The final chapters examine the postwar mentioned in these chapters. Given public controversy sparked by Blackett’s Blackett’s central role in the history of vocal opposition to nuclear weapons, operational research, this would have his long association with Indian politi- been the perfect opportunity to learn cal leaders and scientists, a summary of more about his contributions and to his Nobel-winning career as a physicist, understand the influence of operational and his role in the first administration research during and after World War II. of England’s prime minister Harold Fortunately, several of the contributors Wilson during the late 1960s. chose broader topics. For example, Hore accomplishes his goal of facilitat- Peter Hore’s own chapter offers a ing and gathering new research on thoughtful look at Blackett’s experi- Blackett. Rather than introduce brazen, ences as a sailor during World War I, new concepts, the book’s primary con- using a variety of sources to place that tribution to academic research will be story within the wider circumstances of as a resource for those endeavoring to the war and to consider how Blackett examine elements of Blackett’s life in weathered the ordeal. Mary Jo Nye’s the larger context. This is for the most contribution, “A Physicist in the Corri- part a function of the biographical na- dors of Power,” must also be singled ture of this work, the very practical out for praise. Following Blackett personality of the subject, and the throughout his entire career, Nye de- large number of contributors, each scribes the ebb and flow of Blackett’s with a particular perspective. Several influence on both national policy and of the authors, however, have focused science, demonstrating how Blackett’s too intently on specific, detailed narra- career expressed his character and po- tives, passing up the larger questions. In litical beliefs. It is contributions like some cases the focus is so narrow that these that make this work a valuable the book’s main subject—Blackett—is and enjoyable book. conspicuous by his absence. In fact, ar- CHRIS ELDRIDGE guably, this is the general weakness of The National Academies the book; there is so much emphasis Washington, D.C. on Blackett’s work that little attention is paid to Blackett himself. The two chapters on operational research are useful examples. Jock Gardner’s brief contribution, “Blackett and the Sondhaus, Lawrence. Navies of Europe. London: Longman, 2002. 256pp. $26.95 Black Arts,” analyzes wartime reports O’Brien, Phillips Payson. Technology and Naval from the British signals intelligence and Combat in the Twentieth Century and Beyond. operational research departments to de- Portland, Ore.: Frank Cass, 2001. 360pp. $63 termine the extent that the two groups Since the onset of the industrial revolu- issued reports based on one another’s tion, navies have continuously strug- data. The chapter by Richard Ormerod gled with the challenges posed by is an institutional history of operational technological change. In Navies of Eu- research as a field of study, focusing on rope, Lawrence Sondaus examines this the vagaries of the field’s attempts to problem from a European perspective. define itself. Blackett himself is rarely Sondhaus chronicles the fortunes of https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol57/iss1/31 2