The amounts of theories that deal with naval warfare are many. Several of those are developed under the previous century when tactics and technology were in the eve of development. Many of modern thinkers within science of war often refer to older but recognized theories. The purpose of this essay is to examine if the old but recognized theories are of current interest in modern naval warfare. The questions that are used in this essay are, what is the characteristics of the war of Yom Kippur with Mahan’s offensive and Corbett’s defensive as a starting-point and are there any of the theories that are prominent. The examination is then carried out through analysing Mahan’s offensive and Corbett’s defensive. With their theories as a starting-point the characteristics of Mahan’s offensive and Corbett’s defensive are to be found within the war of Yom Kippur.
The conclusions show that there are characteristics of Mahan’s offensive and Corbett’s defensive within the war of Yom Kippur. The defensive is striking on the political strategic level. The offensive is conspicuous on the military strategic and tactical level.