Nelson & British Naval War Against France Flashcards
What was the purpose of the navy?
To protect the island from invasion whist protecting overseas trade and colonies
When were short-comings revealed of the British navy?
In the American war of independence
Many ships of the line were old and poorly maintained
How many ships did the British navy have in 1792?
135 ships of the line
133 smaller frigates
How many ships did the British have by 1802?
202 ships of the line
277 smaller frigates
How did the number of sailors in the British navy change between 1792 and 1802?
1792: 16’000
1802: 135’000
How were ships in the navy rated?
Depending on the number of guns they had
How many guns did a first rate ship have?
100+
How many guns did second rate ships have?
80-99
What rating did ships of the line have to be?
Up to the 3rd rating
What were the ship-of-the-line?
The largest sea-going ships in the 1790s and early 1800s with up to 100 guns
What were ships of the 5th or 6th rate known as?
Frigates
What were frigates?
Smaller and lighter ships that have the job of scouting and protecting trade vessels
True or false: ships were frequently sunk in naval battles
False
Why were ships rarely sunk in naval battles?
Cannon bales didnt fire explosives they were heavy and smooth cannon balls
They didnt tend to sink ships because wood naturally floats, they could still disable ships
What tended to happen to enemy ships in battle?
They would be captured and become a prize of victory
Many captured french shops and were repaired and reflagged as British
What issues did the navy face in the french wars?
Ships were at sea for months- logistics strained
Supply and administration issues
Dockyards in poor conditions
Shortages of timber
Discontent and mutinies
Why was the lack of timber an issue for the navy?
Deficient ship building and repair
What mutinies were there in 1797?
Spithead in Portsmouth
Nore on the Thames
What were the Spithead mutinies about?
Conditions primarily
What were the Nore mutinies about?
They were more political than Spithead
Ringleaders demanded peace with France
It was hard to find and keep experienced seamen in the navy. How did the navy get civilians to serve?
Used press gangs
What is a mutiny?
Refusing to obey military orders
What were the main concerns that caused the the 1797 naval mutinies?
Sailor discontent about pay, punishment and conditions aboard ships
What happened if there were mutinies at sea?
It was considered the most serious crime and mutineers were usually hanged
In 1797, admiralty steered clear of mass executions but 29 Nore mutineers were hanged
