A hugely in-depth booklet looking at the British Navy and The French Wars for the British Experience Of Warfare module from the Pearson / Edexcel exam board. This study booklet includes everything from summarised notes, to mindmaps to timelines! This was written by a student who attained an A at A-...
Comptroller of Cat o’ nine
Ennobled Blockade Petty officer Mutiny
the Navy tails
This forms part of the depth study on The British Navy and the French Wars. The Royal
Navy played a crucial role in the British Experience of Warfare, establishing mastery of
the seas after 1805. Facing the French threat at sea and the role of Nelson in the defeat
of the French are key elements of this area of study. In order to fully understand this, we
need to look at the condition of the navy in period just before Nelson’s victories. For the
breadth study you need to understand the role of science and technology in improving
weaponry, a key development from this period being carronades in the 1790s.
1789 Start of 1806 1807 – 1813
the French Continental Napoleon
Revolution blockade attempts to
against Britain defeat the
‘Spanish Ulcer’
1792 France 1805 Napoleonic
victories at Ulm and 1812 Napoleon
declared war on
Austerlitz but defeat invades Russia
Austria
at Trafalgar
1793 Execution of the French 1804 Napoleon 1814 Paris falls
king – Louis XIV and First and Napoleon
coalition formed against declared
France Emperor of exiled to the
Levee en Masse – raises 1 France island of Elba
million men
1796 Napoleon 1799 Napoleon 1815 Napoleon
appointed becomes First defeated at the
commander of Consul of Battle of
the Army of Italy France Waterloo
, The British and naval warfare:
• The British navy guarded the nation against invasion.
• It also protected overseas trade and colonies.
• Britain depended on ships for trade and well maintained Navy for battle.
• American War of Independence had revealed shortcomings.
• Many ships of the line were old and poorly maintained.
• American privateers enjoyed success against the Royal Navy.
• In 1792, the British navy had 135 ships of the line and 133 smaller frigates.
o By 1802, the number jumped to 202:277 and the number of sailors from
16,000 to 135,000.
o Had competent admirals such as Samuel Hood, Richard Howe and John
Jervis. And a young one called Horatio Nelson.
The Navy’s role:
• From the outbreak of war in 1793, the navy had ships at sea for months.
• Logistics were strained.
• Had problems with administration and supply.
• Dockyards were in poor condition, shortages of home-grown timber meant that
shipbuilding and repairs were slow.
• Discontent amongst fleet sailors meant mutinies at Spithead and the Nore in 1797.
• Spithead mutinies were more about conditions and the mutiny at Nore was more
political, with the ringleaders demanding peace with France.
• Experienced seamen were hard to find and retain, and press gangs were forced to
use civilians.
• During French wars, the Navy was closer to Europe.
o Squadrons of ships patrolling the North Sea, English Channel, the
Mediterranean and the Atlantic Coast of France and Spain.
o Key tasks were to protect Britain against invasion, to protect the British
commerce on the seas, and interfere with French sea trade and naval activity
through blockades.
o They also stopped ships from neutral countries to search for cargo.
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