The Royal Navy's War 1973-1807 (1)

Question 1

When did Admiral Hood seize Toulon? What were the effects of this?

Answer 1

• August 1793 Hood seized Toulon commanding the Mediterranean fleet
• This was a main French naval base in the Med
• The French army forced him to leave in December but he managed to destroy a large number of French ships

Question 2

Before the Battle of the Glorious First of June, what did the RN blockade?

Answer 2

• The RN blockaded French ports on The Atlantic coast, especially in Brest
• Lord Howe of the blockading fleet was made aware of a grain convoy returning to France from the USA

Question 3

When did Lord Howe confront the French grain convoy? (Think about the name of the battle)!

Answer 3

1st June 1794 the two fleets met 400 miles out in the Atlantic

Question 4

What are the key stats from the Glorious First of June Battle?

Answer 4

• French 26 vs British 25 ships of the line
• Howes fleet captures or sank seven enemy ships
• 7000 French Sailors died, 1200 British Casualties

Question 5

Why was the Battle of the Glorious First of June not a complete success for Lord Howe?

Answer 5

The French grain ships reached France and their cargoes helped avert a famine

Question 6

Who took control of the Mediterranean fleet instead of Hood and what was his characteristics?

Answer 6

1795 - Sir John Jervis
- Jervis latched inefficiency and wanted to whip the fleet into shape
- He created excellent relations with officers like Nelson whom he trusted and respected

Question 7

When did Netherlands and Spain switch sides? What were the effects on the British?

Answer 7

1796 they switched sides
- The RN faced far too many ships, their main fleet was stationed at Spithead only leaving 15 to blockade Brest

Question 8

When did things seemingly get out of hand for the RN after Netherlands and Spain switched sides?

Answer 8

• December 1796 44 French ships carrying 14,000 troops broke out and sailed from Brest towards Ireland
• Luckily after a week of gales the French fleet abandoned the mission and returned to Brest

Question 9

What caused the Battle of Cape St Vincent?

Answer 9

• Jervis stationed the bulk of his force off Càdiz facing the main Spanish fleet

Question 10

When did the Battle of Cape St Vincent kick off?

Answer 10

• 14th February 1797 Jervis encountered a Spanish fleet almost double the size of his own
• Jervis attacked and his ships cut through the enemy line

Question 11

What role did Nelson play, and was it justified that he became the darling to the RN because of this?

Answer 11

• He played a major role and acted courageously by boarding and capturing the much larger San Josef, leading to him getting great recognition
• He took away from other commanders like Troubridge, Cuthbert, Collingwood and Saumarez
• Jervis had captures 4 ships driving them back into Càdiz was ennobled Earl of St Vincent

Question 12

How did the Spithead Mutiny begin?

Answer 12

16th April 1797 Admiral Lord Bridport ordered the fleet at Spithead to sea
- The crews refused the admirals command

Question 13

What were the main points of concern for the sailors carrying out the mutiny, how did the gov respond?

Answer 13

• Pay
• Quality of food
• Brutal officers
• Many officers sympathised and a petition was sent to the Admiralty and the gov made concessions and said they would raise wages

Question 14

How did the mutiny grow from Spithead?

Answer 14

7th May the petty officers presented their demands In a reasonable manner
- Lord Howe dealt in person, entertaining them at a banquet 15th May and re-established trust with individual ships

Question 15

When did Nore mutiny?

Answer 15

12th May 1797, they had more serious demands:
- Power of veto over officers, longer leave and pardon for all deserters
- Mutineers were joined by the North Sea Fleet who was responsible for blockading the Dutch Navy

Question 15

When did Nore mutiny?

Answer 15

12th May 1797, they had more serious demands:
- Power of veto over officers, longer leave and pardon for all deserters
- Mutineers were joined by the North Sea Fleet who was responsible for blockading the Dutch Navy

Question 16

How did the Nore Mutineers attempt to get what they want and how did the government react?

Answer 16

• Attempted to blockade the Thames refusing entry to merchant ships
• Pitts government tried to isolate and starve the mutineers

Question 17

What was the result of the Nore mutiny?

Answer 17

• Mutiny ended mid-June,
• Richard Parker, the leader, and 28 others were hanged

Question 18

When was the Battle of Camperdown?

Answer 18

11th October 1797, Admiral Lord Duncan of the North Sea Fleet
- 16 ships of the line encountered a similar number of Dutch ships off the coast

Question 19

What happened at the Battle of Camperdown?

Answer 19

• Duncans ships formed two unevenly sized divisions and smashed the enemy line
• 11 battleships and 3 frigates were captures

Question 20

Why did Britains future still look bleak despite the victory at the Battle of Camperdown?

Answer 20

• Country continued to be threatened by French invasion
• Austria made peace in 1797 with France, Britain had no major ally
• A French army and fleet at Toulon was preparing to sail and no one knew where

Question 21

What did the British Gov do to find out what the French fleet at Toulon was doing?

Answer 21

• They did not want to deprive the Channel fleet of strength to fend off invasion
• Nelson with three ships of the line and three frigates was sent to the Mediterranean to find out more

Question 22

Prior to the Battle of the Nile where did Napoleon go and why?

Answer 22

• May 1798 Napoleon left Toulon with 13 battleships and 280 transports with 50,000 men
• He wanted to threaten Britains trade and hold of India

Question 23

How did Nelson figure out Napoleon was going for Egypt?

Answer 23

• in June Napoleon reinforced his fleet with 11 ships of the line and Nelson heard rumours that the French had taken Malta
• He therefore set for Egypt arriving in Alexandria on the 29th June, unfortunately Napoleon arrived on the 1st July

Question 24

Where did Nelson eventually find the French fleet after missing Napoleon in Egypt?

Answer 24

• Found the fleet in Aboukir Bay at the River Nile
• 13 Enemy ships anchored in a line close to shoals

Question 25

Despite the fleets being of similar size, what put the Royal Navy at a disadvantage at the Battle of the Nile?

Answer 25

• the French had an exceptionally large 120 gun ship called the Orient and two more 80 gun ships
• Nelsons ships only had 74 guns and the ‘Lander’ only had 50

Question 26

Who commanded ‘The Goliath’ and what did they do at the Battle of the Nile?

Answer 26

• Commanded by Thomas Foley
• At 6pm Sailed round the leading French ships to attach from the shore side
• The French would not have prepped the port side guns as they would not expect the British to sail so close the shoals
• Other ships fired from starboard side sandwiching the French ships between fire

Question 27

What was the result of the Battle of the Nile?

Answer 27

• 9:37pm The Orient blew up, only 2/13 French ships had escaped
• The RN regained control of the Med
• Napoleon escaped in 1799 but was stuck in Egypt until then
• Austria, Russia, Naples and Turkey joined Britain in a new coalition

Question 28

What were Nelsons accolades after the Battle of the Nile?

Answer 28

• He had brought about a battle at night, going against conventional naval warfare
• He had inspired officers and his men
• He had not over complicated things with signals, he only raised 9 in total