Oil and British Naval Power - Robin F. Ransom

This comprehensive book delves into the pivotal role of oil in shaping British strategy from 1914 to 1923. It unveils a cohesive oil policy that significantly influenced naval strategy, diplomatic relations, policies towards the oil industry, and post-war objectives in the Middle East. Unlike previous works that focused on specific aspects, this study provides a holistic examination, revealing the extent to which oil impacted various dimensions of British strategy during the specified period.

The Royal Navy emerges as a crucial consumer of oil, adopting it as a primary fuel source even before World War I, a trend that intensified during the conflict. While oil-powered aircraft and land vehicles transformed warfare and civilian life, the Royal Navy's consumption eclipsed them. British industry lagged in oil adoption due to the economic advantage of coal, but the Royal Navy prioritized oil's technical advantages over cost considerations.