At the beginning of the 20th century 'control of the seas' through the possession of the strongest of battle fleets was an integral aspect of superpower status. Today naval power is of a wholly different nature with strategic and political significances previously unimagined. The collections contain important material on the changing nature of naval warfare in the modern era and document every aspect of the path from the dreadnought battleship to the nuclear submarine.

You can explore aspects of this theme through the collection highlights, or read the War at Sea overview.