Unit 35.1 - Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914
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Changing nature of RN
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Unit 35.1 - Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
Book
Edexcel A Level History, Paper 3
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Unit 35.1 - Britain: losing and gaining an empire, 1763-1914
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The changing nature of the Royal Navy 1763-1914
Introduction
Age of Sail = name given for period – destruction of Spanish Armada (1588) to
development of effective steam warships in mid 19th century, naval warfare was
dominated by cannon– firing ships
By 1763 (End of 7YW) – Britain enjoyed supremacy over rivals (Fr, Dutch and
Spanish) for last 200 years
o 1805 – not until destruction of Franco- Spanish fleet at Trafalgar in 1805 that
its supremacy was unchallengeable by rivals – even combining forces
RN maintained dominant position until early C20 – well into the Age of Steam
1763-1914 = period of immense change for RN – driven to defeat Euro rivals
o Once achieved – RN played vital role in trade, exploration and democracy
making Br a truly global power
How did the role of the Royal Navy evolve in the years 1763-1914?
The Significance of Changing Ship types
RN designed to destroy similar fleets in pitched Naval battles
o Showed this ability 1759 decisive battles against French at Lagos (coast of
Portugal) and Quilberon Bay (Coast of France) – tilted balance of 7YW in Br
favour
OLD OBJECTIVE (Medieval Times, before Age of Sail) of ships was to get alongside
enemy vessel so soldiers could board it
NEW OBJECTIVE sailing ships carried rows of cannon in their sides and sunk enemies
by firing a broadside (discharging all cannons at once into body of enemy ship)
Victorious ships;
o Bigger and more guns
o Fire faster and accurately
o Manoeuvre to avoid enemy broadside when firing own
This required skilled sailors
Naval Tactics
In battles, fleets approached enemy in long line, this had advantages;
Allowed to fire mass broadside when passing enemy ships
Avoided risk of friendly fire as broadsides wouldn’t face eachother
Front ship and Back ship were only two exposed
Improved communications with a fleet through flag signalling from ship at front to
the rest
Battles were often indecisive, but if fleet could sail across/through enemy line – it
could make havoc
Br commanders were trained and encouraged to pursue aggressive tactics, engaging
the enemy at point blank range
RN Ship Types during Age of Sail
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