Navy Reforms - Sail to Steam Flashcards
Why was the initial drift towards Steam Power incredibly limited?
The Sea Lords were incredibly conservative and believed that steam power would be incredibly unreliable at sea. They believed that sails were perfect for the navy.
Give an example of opposition to the introduction of steam?
First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Melville stated that the introduction of steam was calculated to strike a fatal blow to the naval supremacy of the Empire.
Why did Graham move the Navy towards steam power?
He was very much a technocrat and progressive by nature and believed that urgent reforms were needed for the Navy to remain effective.
What were the first steam ships introduced to the Navy?
Graham oversaw the introduction of the first steamships these being HMS Medea and HMS Gladiator.
Why was Graham unable to introduce any more steam battleships?
He proposed the introduction of 10 more steam battleships however, the expense was deemed too much for the British Government to handle during peace time especially when there were no major threats.
What issues did early steamships face?
They were extremely costly and in turn prone to breaking down, coal was also very heavy to carry and created an incredible risk of fire. Furthermore, paddles on the ship created a vulnerability and also reduced the number of cannons. For example HMS Terrible.
Why was there an increasing pressure to increase the number of steamships during the 1840s?
The French had introduced their own steam engine and screw propelled ships which gave them a slight edge, the French admiralty had been more progressive in an attempt to gain an advantage over the British.
