Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914: breadth - navy

Question 1

Broadside

Answer 1

discharge of large guns mounted along on the side of a warship. rapid firing was main tactic in Age of Sail. up to 60 cannon on each side. guns could be loaded with 2 or 3 cannonballs for damage.

Question 2

Naval tactics

Answer 2

in battles, fleets approached the enemy in a long line,
- enabled sustained bombardment, each ship able to fire a broadside
- avoided friendly ships firing on each other as no broadsides would face each other
- reduced exposure of bows and sterns to enemy fire.
- improved speed + effectivieness of signalling by flags between the admiral’s ship and the fleet

Question 3

Scilly Naval Disaster

Answer 3

• 1707
• 4 warships were lost to rocks in poor weather, 1550 dead including an Admiral (+ his two sons) and a Captain.
• Between 1803-15, abt 70% of RN ships lost at sea had run aground on dangerous coastline or sank at sea

Question 4

Why did the Navy get involved in exploration and mapping?

Answer 4

• Ships of the line had been used in major engagements – deep keels and long sides not well equipped for unknown waters.
• Accurate charts and good navigational skills crucial to victory
• Haunted by Scilly disaster 1707 – 4 warships and 1550 men lost to navigational error
• Admiralty gave high priority to voyages of exploration and mapping

Question 5

Harrison’s watch

Answer 5

• 1759
• produced watch that kept time at sea
• lost only 5 secs on 81-day voyage -> accurate calculations within 1 nautical mile.
• problem of longitude + chart-making had been solved

Question 6

Why was Cook’s voyage important?

Answer 6

• it showed that it was possible for an expedition to stay at sea for 3 years without losing men to disease w/ cleanliness + fresh food
• established a British claim to new lands e.g. Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific
• proved efficacy of making accurate charts. Cook as a cartographer and using Harrison’s watch, he produced charts that remained influential until the 20c
• forestalled new territories by European rivals, inc the penal colony of NWS
• After Cook, in 1795, the Hydrographic Office was established to collate reliable charts w a focus on unfamiliar waters

Question 7

Attack on Algiers

Answer 7

1816

Question 8

Retention of Gibraltar

Answer 8

1783

Question 9

Acquisition of Malta, Ceylon, and Cape Town

Answer 9

1815

Question 10

Acquisition of Falklands

Answer 10

1833

Question 11

Acquisition of Aden

Answer 11

1839

Question 12

Acquisition of Cyprus

Answer 12

1878