the aircraft carrier club 63
still plays an integral part in international affairs. According to Cable ( 1989 ,
44 – 45 ), 1944 was the only year between 1919 and 1989 in which there
were no recorded incidents of gunboat diplomacy; at least twenty- three
states used gunboat diplomacy in the 1970 s. It is widely accepted that
the success of gunboat diplomacy depends not on the inherent power of
the gunboat itself but rather on its symbolic value (Luttwak 1974 , 29 ). The
single gunboat is perceived as a reflection of national power and prestige.
The connection between naval power and prestige is therefore a deep-
rooted one.^7
The navy has traditionally been and still is the most expensive arm of
the military. Consequently, the development of strong naval capabilities
is a costly enterprise that can be successfully executed only by a few coun-
tries. If anything, contemporary naval procurement is more expensive and
exclusive than ever.
Another long- term tendency which is having serious effects on British military
strength is the sheer costliness of modern armaments.... The Dreadnought,
the first British nuclear powered submarine, cost over $ 18 million; a few years
later the Polaris- type boats, such as Resolution, cost $ 40 million but that was
without the missile system. With the latter the cost soared to $ 52. 5 million per
vessel and it would no doubt would have been higher but for American as-
sistance. The aircraft carrier Eagle, which cost $ 15. 75 million when new, was
refitted in the early 60 ’s for $ 31 million.... With each new model the increase in
price is steeper.... The building of a major warship is now impossible without
vast resources. One Trident submarine is estimated at more than $ 1 billion.
(Kennedy 1983 a, 341 )