The War That Never Was

The War That Never Was examines a little-known naval conflict between Britain and Spain during 1739-1748, known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. Palmer reconstructs the strategic plans, military decisions, and political maneuvering that shaped this obscure but consequential confrontation. Through extensive research of primary sources and naval records, the book details the British plan to dominate Spanish colonies in the Caribbean and South America through a campaign of coastal raids and commerce disruption. The narrative tracks both the high-level strategic objectives and the realities faced by commanders and crews operating in distant waters. The book focuses on the disconnect between Britain's ambitious plans for naval dominance and the actual results achieved during the conflict. Palmer documents the logistical challenges, disease outbreaks, and coordination failures that plagued the British effort. This account reveals broader patterns about the limits of sea power and the gap between strategic planning and tactical execution in 18th century warfare. The story serves as a case study in how seemingly promising military ventures can be undone by practical constraints and unforeseen complications.

Readers find Palmer's account of the counterfactual 1938 Anglo-German war informative but dense. Several note his thorough research into military capabilities, logistics, and planning documents from both sides. LIKED: - Detailed technical analysis of naval forces and strategies - Examination of actual war plans from both nations - Insight into Royal Navy and Kriegsmarine comparisons - Documentation and primary sources DISLIKED: - Writing style described as "academic" and "dry" - Too much focus on naval aspects vs land/air operations - Some sections get bogged down in technical details - Limited exploration of political implications RATINGS: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Fascinating premise but reads more like a military planning document than a narrative history." - Goodreads reviewer LibraryThing users rated the book's technical accuracy highly but critiqued its readability for non-specialists.

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🔹 The book explores a hypothetical naval war between Britain and France in the 1880s, a period of intense rivalry between the two nations despite their peaceful coexistence in reality. 🔹 Michael Palmer drew extensively from actual military plans and documents from both British and French naval archives to create a historically plausible scenario. 🔹 The 1880s marked a revolutionary period in naval warfare, as steel-hulled warships and breach-loading guns were replacing wooden vessels and muzzle-loaders, making this time period particularly fascinating for military analysis. 🔹 The author incorporated real historical figures into his narrative, including actual British and French admirals and politicians who would have been in command during this period. 🔹 The book provides detailed technical specifications of actual ships from both navies, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of late 19th-century naval capabilities and technologies.