Annual Symposia

2026 WNHA SYMPOSIUM

The Western Naval History Association held its 8th Annual Symposium over the balmy weekend of 21/22 February on board the U.S.S. Midway on the San Diego waterfront. In accordance with its mission of promoting naval history to the broadest audience—from the mildly interested to world-class historians—the 2026 program included a range of topics from the U.S. Marine Corp in the Gilded Age to a comparison between the threats presented by the old USSR Navy up until and the current PLA Navy.

As in past years, the Symposium was well attended and was broadcast virtually. Hosted by the U.S.S. Midway Museum and moderated by WNHA President, Captain Sam J. Tangredi (USN Ret), the program began with an examination of the Japanese mini-submarine attack on Pearl Harbor by Dave Miller, John Rodgaard, and Dr. Alan Zimm. Zimm followed this with an operational analysis of the Japanese air raid, depicting it as a sloppy affair and not the precision attack as is commonly perceived. Terry McKearney discussed how to model naval battles and the symposium’s participants broke into teams to analyze three famous naval battles according to McKearney’s methods. The day’s program continued with fascinating looks at the career of the Imperial Russian cruiser, Askold by Stephen McLaughlin and the activities of ServRon 10 at Ulithi by Syndey Burks. Len Heinz finished the day with a discussion of the Spanish Civil War at Sea, a topic which was new information for many participants, and which provoked many questions

On Day Two of the Symposium Evan Mawdsley joined the group virtually from Scotland comparing the challenges to American supremacy at sea by first the Soviet and then the Chinese PLA Navy. Vincent O’Hara followed with a review of some of the major naval narratives of World War II. John Burtt then discussed the little-known New Georgia campaign of the Pacific War. Trent Hone spoke of the disasters that befell Allied shipping off the U.S. coast in the months after Pearl Harbor and then, in a change of pace Lonnie Gill laid out a large-scale depiction of the 1915 Battle of the Dogger Bank using 1/2400 scale miniature ship models. The afternoon presentations were delivered by Hal Friedman talking about the U.S. Marines in the Gilded Age, Chris Langell on the U.S. Atlantic Fleet before Pearl Harbor, and Jamie Orr on Alfred Thayer Mahan as a Prophet.

As in past years major features of the event included the diversity of the program and the geniality of the participants. A much commented upon feature of this annual event is that it has exposed participants to many naval history topics they never would have explored on their own. The speakers at this year’s symposium included internationally respected academics, well-known naval history authors, naval professionals, and thinkers, including strong representation from the Naval War College and the editor of the Naval War College Review. Fifty people attended live and more than a hundred virtually.

Dates for the 2027 symposium are set. It will be held once again on board the U.S.S. Midway on 20 and 21 February.