The interwar wargames served as a laboratory for strategy, most notably revealing the flaws in War Plan Orange. Repeated simulations in the early 1930s demonstrated that a direct fleet advance to relieve the Philippines was unfeasible, forcing a major, necessary re-evaluation of U.S. Pacific strategy years before the war began.
The Naval War College's primary contribution was educational, not predictive. It taught a generation of future admirals like Nimitz and Spruance how to think critically and make decisions under pressure, creating a shared intellectual framework that proved decisive in World War II.
The wargames were essential for understanding the capabilities and vulnerabilities of the era's disruptive technology: the aircraft carrier. Non-aviator officers learned how to employ naval aviation, leading to innovations like separating carrier groups from the main battle line, a concept validated in the games.
The Naval War College's influence and effectiveness were not constant, facing challenges with budget, institutional relevance, and attracting top-tier students. Its success in the 1920s and 30s was dependent on strong leadership and institutional buy-in, which later declined, highlighting the vulnerability of such institutions.
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