Navy Battles Flashcards
Battle of Camperdown
10/1797.
Northern Sea Fleet consisted of 16 SOL - recently mutinied.
Duncan attacked without hesitation.
Decisive victory, captured 3 Dutch Admirals & 12 ships.
Restored British Navy’s reputation after the mutinies.
Battle of Cape St Vincent
02/1797.
Spanish fleet, Admiral Cordoba, 27 battleships, 2.3k guns.
British fleet, Admiral Jervis, 15 battleships, 1.2k guns.
Admiral Cordoba had advantage, but didn’t want to fight - British sailors feared across Europe.
Jervis maneuvered into position in the early morning fog.
Exploited gaps without hesitation, confident in ability. Nelson darted towards 5 Spanish ships, initiatives, British in a bad, U-shaped positions.
Captured 4 ships and 3000 men, and 1000 Spanish killed.
Battle of the Nile
08/1798.
Napoleon wanted to control Nile so British ties to India (grain) were cut off.
Nelson vs Brueys.
French = 13 SOL, 1.2k guns.
British = 14 SOL, 1k guns.
Bruey was naive, didn’t think British would attack as sunset was coming, hadn’t tied ships, all guns and port holes closed, deck was a mess.
Used lanterns on ships to reduce friendly fire.
Most convenient manner.
Attacked on both flanks, French didn’t expect to be attacked around the back and didn’t want to risk shooting at their own troops on the shore.
French lost 13 ships and 4.2k men, British lost 900 men.
Nelson wanted to capture/destroy all ships, but fleet in no condition to do so.
Napoleon lost Mediterranean and army stranded, confidence shattered, no longer seen as invincible.
2nd Coalition.
British gunnery skills outmatched French: speed, efficiency, accuracy. Constantly adapting to ever-changing complex tasks, testament to seamanship.
2nd Coalition
11/1798.
Britain, Ottoman Empire, Russia.
French lost lots of battles, cost a lot of money.
10/1801, Napoleon returned to France, unpopular.
1801-04, French gov collapses and Napoleon becomes emperor of France.
Battle of Trafalgar
10/1805.
Franco-Spanish fleet = 33 SOL, Commander Villeneuve.
British = 27 SOL, Nelson + Vice-Admiral Collingwood.
Attacked in 2 columns, close quarter combat.
Nelson remained on deck, visible until he was shot and taken below deck, Collingwood left in charge.
Franco-Spanish lost 19 ships & 6.9k casualties.
British lost no ships, suffered 1.7k casualties.
British Success at Trafalgar
Studding Sails, extra sails = greater speed + maneuverability.
Spirit + discipline, Santa Ana and Sovereign behind enemy lines surrounded by 5 ships, but fought 15 mins until battered into submission.
Close quarter battles = double/triple shots.
More drilled/experienced sailors, constantly changing environment.
French guns fired 700 yards, British = 900 yards.
British captains led on deck boosting morale, French hid.
British guns used flintlock mechanism, Combined fleet used matches.
French sailor - the British guns must have been manned by devils as they toiled unceasingly with grim determination.
Significance of Napoleonic War
Sealed British absolute dominance of the oceans.
Napoleon changed focus on economic war with British European allies.
