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
