After being devastated by the Sino-Japanese war, it was rebuilt after the founding of the Republic under the policy 'a strong defense requires a strong navy.'
民國建立，政府秉持「無海防即無國防」的海權理論，於民國二年，將前清的船政學堂更名為製造學校和馬尾海軍學校，並在青島、江陰相繼設立海校。