Here are some factors to consider in analyzing a battle:
- The critical players -- who were the opponents or leaders, what ships or units were involved
- Titles, persons and positions -- ranks and positions of officers or civilians who had authority or could make decisions
- Exact dates -- verify the specific dates as many resources on wars are arranged chronologically
- Sequence of what happened -- how did the battle progress and what was the outcome
- Location, terrain, environmental factors -- geography and the conditions under which the battle was fought are critical and you may want to get a map to help you understand why the battle happened where it did
- Technology and weapons -- what weapons or resources were available to each side
- Leadership -- how effective and adaptable were the people in charge
These steps may help you with your research:
- Read a background article to understand the above factors as you start your research.
- Use the library catalog to identify books on your battle.
- Browse the books nearby on the shelves for additional titles.
- Check the bibliographies in these books to lead you to more sources.
- Use article databases to find scholarly journal articles.
- Finding newspaper coverage from the date of your battle or old magazine articles.
- Finding at least one primary source (see the tab on left side).
- Consider visiting Nimitz Library's Special Collections and Archives Division.
- Ask a librarian for help.
