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The British Navy (5)
- Britain were generally successful in the 18th century
- War of American Independence ended in British defeat (lost American colonies)
- Navy ensured Britain escaped invasion and held onto rest of the empire
- After 1783 Britain kept a considerable number of ships at sea unlike other European countries
- Ensured 20,000 officers and seamen maintained skills
Naval warfare in the late 18th century (7)
- Ships made of wood
- Dependent on sails
- Main battleships = ships of the line (approx. 70 guns)
- Also relied on frigates (28-36 guns) for patrolling, scouting or conveying merchantmen
- Sloops and gunboats used on convoy and blockade duty
- Warships raked the enemy with broadsides
- Captured ships repaired
Late 18th century - Blockade (3)
- To prevent enemy ships leaving port
- Close blockade - main fleet sailed near to enemy port
- Open blockade - frigates patrolled the coast off the enemy port and if enemy ships were put to sea some frigates informed the fleet
Late 18th century - Gunnery (6)
- Each ship obliged to perform daily gunnery practice since 1745
- 32-pounder guns each manned by 7 sailors
- Gun captain responsible for aiming and firing
- Labourious work
- Speed at which fired usually determined battle outcome
- British - a broadside every 1 1/2 minutes - much faster than enemies
Naval officers (7)
- Most from professional middle classes
- Many sons or relations of naval officers
- Learned as lowly midshipmen
- Learned practical skills as well as maths, astronomy and navigation
- Family influence ensured officers were fasttracked
- Many officers had valuable experience from AWoI
- Due to French Rev - French officers after 1793 lacked experience of British counterparts
Naval crews (2)
- After 1793, navy's strength around 120,000 men
- By 1812, 140,000 in 1000 vessels
Naval crews - Recruitment (7)
- No conscription
- Relied on impressment as voluntary recruitment didn't provide enough men
- Impressment Service had the power to force seafarers 15-55 to join to navy
- Press gangs sent out in and around ports
- 1805 - 1/2 navy's crew made of pressed men
- Also Quota System - each county to supply a certain number of volunteers (frequently criminals)
- Many sailors not British
Naval crews - Conditions (7)
- In 1793 naval seamen paid 22s 6d per month
- Merchant seamen paid twice as month
- No wage increase since 1652
- Food was monotonous
- Work was hard physically
- Harsh discipline (cat-o'-nine-tails)
- Sailors' main hope to capture enemy ship and win prize money
Naval crews - Discipline and teamwork (4)
- Discipline and teamwork = foundation of British naval strength
- Based on ships that 'hummed like well-oiled machines'
- Raw recruits and discontented pressed men - obedience achieved through continual threat of punishment
- Some officers preferred to win love and respect of crews
The navy 1783-93 (10)
- Ruled the waves due to superior seamenship and gunnery
- AWoI exposed some shortcomings
- William Pitt the Younger and Rear Admiral Middleton
- Dockyards more closely supervised to elimate waste and corruption
- Middleton - coppering fleets so ships needed fewer repairs
- New docks built at Portsmouth and Plymouth
- The carronade - triumph of industrial innovation
- French failed to produce a close range
weapon as good
- Gunlocks replaced slowmatches - more efficient and broadsides became faster and more accurate
- Royal Navy t/f more prepared in 1793 than France and Spain
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