Navy - The French Wars 1793 - 1815 Flashcards
3 roles of navy in French Wars:
1) Supported overseas campaigns
2) Blockaded French ports to strangle trade
3) Protected British commerce on high seas
2 strengths of navy:
1) British navy outnumbered the French one
2) Horatio Nelson was an aggressive commander
Where did most naval officers come from and compare their experience with French?
- Professional middle-class
- Both British and French naval officers had gained valuable experience from American War of Independence, but many French officers were guillotined during French rev
How many ships of the line, smaller frigates and sailors did the British navy have in 1792 compared to 1802?
- SOFL: 135 to 202
- Frigates: 133 to 277
- Sailors: 16000 to 135000
Frigates:
- Smaller but faster ships
- 28 to 26 guns
2 types of blockade:
1) Close blockade –> Main fleet sailed near enemy port
2) Open blockade –> Main fleet was at home port and frigates patrolled the coast off enemy port
Give 3 examples of competent admirals in the navy:
- Samuel Hood
- Richard Howe
- John Jervis
- Horatio Nelson
Give 3 strengths of Nelson as a naval commander:
- Leadership
- Bravery
- Bold grasp of naval tactics
Initially, what problems did the navy have in 1793?
- Strained logistics
- Administration problems
- Dockyards in poor condition
- Shortages of home-grown timber
Which battle made Nelson famous and why?
- Battle of Cape St Vincent
- Took 74 gun ship HMS Captain out of line of British ships and into close quarter combat despite severe damage
- Captured 2 Spanish warships, increased rep and was promoted to rear-admiral
How was the navy significant in the failure of Napoleon?
Britain’s naval strength could defy French attempts at an European trade embargo and cripple French maritime operations both commercial and naval
Give another example of a battle where Nelson was responsible for victory, what happened and its significance:
- Battle of the Nile
- Nelson slipped half his force between French ships and coast in order to attack from both sides (13/17 ships captured/destroyed)
- Left most of Napoleon’s army stranded in Europe
What fighting qualities did Nelson place importance on? (2)
- Comprehensive destruction of enemy
- Capturing enemy ships as prizes
What was the Peace of Amiens (1802-3) and why was it formed?
- Peace treaty
- Formed due to GBR’s fear of League of Armed Neutrality (Sweden, Denmark and Russia) as a possible danger to Britain’s maritime trade
Why did Peace of Amiens not last?
- French refused to agree trade deal with Britain
- Britain declared war on 18 May 1803
What innovation in 1780s improved British vessels, why and how?
- Coppering = Covering a ship’s wooden hull w/ copper sheets
- Protected wood and nails from corrosion
- Warships made faster and remained at sea for longer
What was the key to winning a sea battle?
Gunnery (achieving fast rates of fire)
What was Nelson’s favourite ploy?
- Break enemy’s line so his ships could fire in turn
- Sent broadsides (terrible damage) to rake enemy ships from bow to stern
Broadsides:
Firing of all guns on one side of ship simultaneously
What were navy’s main ships called and generally how many guns did they have?
- Ships of the line
- Around 70 guns
What did ammunition for muzzle-loading guns include? (3)
Solid iron balls, chain shot and heated shot
What did naval strategy often include and how was this part of managing ships?
- Waiting and guessing where they enemy would be
- Captain had to keep crew fit to be able to do this
What did Napoleon order French and Spanish troops to do in October 1805 and how did this backfire against him?
- Sail to Italy to support his campaign against Austrians
- Nelson used this opportunity by initiating Battle of Trafalgar
How many ships of the line did Nelson have compared to Napoleon and where did the fighting take place?
- GBR: 27, FRA: 33
- Cape Trafalgar in southern Spain
Describe the events of Battle of Trafalgar: (3)
- British ships formed 2 columns, one led by Nelson (HMS Victory), the other by Collingwood (HMS Temeraire)
- Both ships fought broadside into French Redoutable
- Nelson died
How many French men were lost in the Battle of Trafalgar?
490/643 men
After Battle of Trafalgar, what did Napoleon focus more on?
Economic warfare and supremacy on land rather than beating GBR’s naval supremacy
Give 3 reasons why French maritime trade was weaker than the British’s and how the British contributed to this:
- France had fewer ships,
- Britain dominated maritime trade w/ more than 21000 vessels by 1815
- France relied on imports of British colonies
- French relied on neutral shipping but British navy insisted on stopping and searching these as well
What was the Continental System?
1806 –> Napoleon introduced Berlin Decrees forbidding Europe to trade with Britain
