Part 1: Naval Wars Flashcards
Glorious First of June 1794
British Strengths and Admiral: Lord Howe led 25 ships of the line into battle
Opposing Strengths and Admiral: France led 26 ships of the line
Reason for Battle: Admiral Lord Howe infiltrated French fleet carrying grain- Primary role of the Royal Navy Blockade
Outcome of Battle: British success, Took 6 French ships and sunk 1 (prefer to catch than destroy as can be added to British fleet)
Grain still got to France.
FIRST BRITISH NAVAL SUCCESS
Battle of Cape St Vincent: 14th February 1797- Nelson captain of the Captain on valentines day
British Strengths: 15 ships of the line
Opposing Strengths: 25 ships of the line- Spanish allied with the French
Reason for Battle: Primary role of the Royal Navy engage whenever and wherever- Nelson broke orders and broke the line therefore British success due to this.
Outcome of Battle: British victory- HMS Captain engaged 3 enemy ships including 130 gun ship Santisma, Trinidad and captured 2 ships by Nelson 2 by others. ‘Desperate affairs require desperate measures’
Santa Cruz De Tenerife- 22-25 July 1797
British Strengths: 4000 regulars/sailors, 3 ships of the line, Nelson took landing party 1/4 of landing party= 1000
Opposing Strengths@ 1700 regulars/sailors/militia, 91 guns
Reason for Battle: For the capture of the port, Amphibious: Hand to hand combat
Outcome of the battle: Nelson lost an arm constant reminder of his failure- loss for British. Being overly confident/arrogant, Evidence Nelson did not win every battle.
Battle of the Nile: 01-02 August 1798
British Strengths: 14 ships of the line
French Strengths: 15 ships of the line
Reason for Battle: Expand French territory- British told to find French general Napoleon Bonaparte, French fleet anchored at the River Nile- skeleton crew. ‘First gain the victory then make the best use of it you can.’
Outcome of Battle: Nelson attacks fleet, leaves Napoleon stranded in Egypt without resources. 2 ships destroyed and 9 captured.
Nelson stayed in Naples and had an affair with Emma Hamilton here
Battle of Copenhagen: 2 April 1801
British Strengths: 12 ships of the line- lost 3 ships of the line
Danish Strengths: 9 ships of the line- 6 ships Nelson captured
Reason for Battle: Napoleon leader of France invade/negotiate ally terms.. Danish had a large fleet for Napoleon to exploit. If Danish ally of France French also had Danish fleet.
Outcome of the Battle: Nelson awarded with a peerage after battle. Danish ships damaged and no use to the French.
Blockage of Toulon and Chase of Villeneuve
Napoleon planned to lose Nelson through Villeneuve in the Caribbean and return to North Atlantic so he could destroy British Home Seas fleet.
Failure as Nelson chased Villeneuve half way round the world and back to Spanish waters. This directly led to Trafalgar
‘Premier for the Battle of Trafalgar’
Battle of Trafalgar: 21 October 1805
British Strengths: 27 ships of the line
French/Spanish Strengths: 33 ships of the line
Reason for Battle: Defence against the French/Spanish- Napoleon trying to invade Britain. Nelson chases Villeneuve’s fleet round the seas to commence the Battle of Trafalgar.
Outcome of the Battle: 21 ships captured, 1 sunk.
None captured for the British. British victory. Commencing Battle of Trafalgar 100 years of Naval Supremacy.
‘England expects every man to do his duty.’
Battle of Trafalgar Key notes:
Nelson used tactics of raking the enemy- firing at the weakest parts of the ship the front and the back to make it more vulnerable.
Nelson died in the Battle of Trafalgar from a fatal gunshot wound and died in after speaking for the last time to his captain Hardy.
Nelsons role was taken over and replaced by Cuthbert Collingwood who was known as Commander in chief
Timeline of Naval Wars
Glorious First of June: 1st June 1794
Battle of Cape St Vincent: 14th February 1797
Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 22-25th July 1797
Battle of the Nile: 01-02nd August 1798
Battle of Copenhagen: 02nd April 1801
Battle of Trafalgar: 21st October 1805
The ‘Nelson Touch’
- Breaking orthodox tactics
- Challenging enemy no matter what
- Disregarding rules
- ‘Band of Brothers’ captain of every ship of the line
- Raking the enemy
What were the roles of the Royal Navy after Nelson:
- Blockade
- Stop enemy supplies
- Engage with the enemy
- Protect British shores
Reasons for British success at sea:
- Effective close range gunnery- muzzle loaded canons with iron balls, chain shot and heated shot
- Carronades killed enemy men from the deck and destroyed masts
- Hulls of British ships had coppering which made British ships faster and more maneuverable
- Great leadership of Nelson.
