Naval Warfare Flashcards
How had fleets changed from before the 1500s?
Ships had simply been a way to get to a battle, but Tudor ships were designed to fight.
What is the ‘line of battle’?
A tactic sometimes used when full scale battles were fought. Ships formed into a single line and fired together on the enemy. The aim was to sink as many as possible.
What were a common form of attack?
Raids.
What were raids?
They took enemy ports by surprise and destroyed as many ships as possible before the enemy had the chance to fight back. This kind of attack also allowed for treasure to be stolen.
What were fireships?
They were an affective tactics used in the 16th century. An old ship would be set alight and sent into the middle of the enemy fleet. This would send panic among the wooden ships and cause great damage at little risk to the attacker.
Name 3 English tactics:
-Line of battle
-Raids
-Fireships
What new type of sail had been developed?
A new type of triangular sail, known as a lateen.
What did the new sail, a lateen, allow?
It allowed for much faster travel and new ships allowed for greater speed and manoeuvrability. Ships could therefore travel greater distances and perform better in raids and battles.
Name 3 new technologies which improved English naval warfare:
-Lateens
-New, more powerful cannons
-The astrolabe
What did the new, more powerful cannons mean?
It was now possible to fire at enemy ships from a distance. Previously, sailors would try to board enemy ships.
What did new inventions like the astrolabe allow?
It allowed for greater accuracy when planning voyages and working out locations. This helped sailors prepare much better for long voyages, particularly if they had to pass through hostile waters.
