British Experience of Warfare Revision Pack
Britain and the French Wars 1793-1815
War at Sea
o So far…
Spithead and Nore mutinies in 1797 – poor conditions, politics
Press gangs
Introduction of fruit and veg on ships = no scurvy
o Glorious 1st June 1794
Howe hears of a French grain convoy – fleets meet 400 miles into the
Atlantic
French – 26 ships, British – 25 ships
They meet their opposite numbered ship – cuts off the French
o Battle of the Nile – August 1798
All the French ships were in a line when Nelson found them near
Alexandria – Brueys was the French Admiral – ropes between the
ships to avoid the boats getting separated
Out of 13 ships only 2 escaped
French mistakes – mooring all guns facing the sea, poor preparation as
they did not expect to fight in the night
Nelson’s leadership – gave power to other leaders rather than
micromanaging, lantern system to avoid friendly fire, first few minutes
of a battle are crucial so took out two ships within minutes
British gunnery, seamanship, technology – smaller and shallower
ships, faster ships, British carronades (manoeuvrable, quick-firing,
large shot at short range, smaller crew) – 74 British vs 120 French –
reduced mobility of the French Navy
o Copenhagen 2nd April 1801
Parker (British Admiral) – wants to drive the Danish out
Nelson does not have patience and ignores his senior’s command – the
two commanders were opposites
The battle was politically uncomfortable because Denmark was neutral
even though they were in partnership with Russia
Heavily floating batteries on hulks to keep enemy ships away, forts
Parker orders a surrender and Nelson fought on despite this
o Battle of Trafalgar – 21st October 1805
Nelson’s 27 ships (17,000 men and 2,148 guns) to the enemy’s 33
ships (30,000 men and 2,568 guns)
French/Spanish were led by Gravina and Villeneuve – they had a
strained relationship
British had two columns – Nelson and Collingwood – Nelson’s touch –
only signalled 9 times
HMS Victory – “pell mell” – badly damaged as she was under heavy
fire from 5 ships for 40 minutes
Atlantic swell meant that the French/Spanish could not establish their
positions
Point blank firing – French guns were powerful but inaccurate – you
can never go too wrong by putting your ship against an enemy one –
Britain and the French Wars 1793-1815
War at Sea
o So far…
Spithead and Nore mutinies in 1797 – poor conditions, politics
Press gangs
Introduction of fruit and veg on ships = no scurvy
o Glorious 1st June 1794
Howe hears of a French grain convoy – fleets meet 400 miles into the
Atlantic
French – 26 ships, British – 25 ships
They meet their opposite numbered ship – cuts off the French
o Battle of the Nile – August 1798
All the French ships were in a line when Nelson found them near
Alexandria – Brueys was the French Admiral – ropes between the
ships to avoid the boats getting separated
Out of 13 ships only 2 escaped
French mistakes – mooring all guns facing the sea, poor preparation as
they did not expect to fight in the night
Nelson’s leadership – gave power to other leaders rather than
micromanaging, lantern system to avoid friendly fire, first few minutes
of a battle are crucial so took out two ships within minutes
British gunnery, seamanship, technology – smaller and shallower
ships, faster ships, British carronades (manoeuvrable, quick-firing,
large shot at short range, smaller crew) – 74 British vs 120 French –
reduced mobility of the French Navy
o Copenhagen 2nd April 1801
Parker (British Admiral) – wants to drive the Danish out
Nelson does not have patience and ignores his senior’s command – the
two commanders were opposites
The battle was politically uncomfortable because Denmark was neutral
even though they were in partnership with Russia
Heavily floating batteries on hulks to keep enemy ships away, forts
Parker orders a surrender and Nelson fought on despite this
o Battle of Trafalgar – 21st October 1805
Nelson’s 27 ships (17,000 men and 2,148 guns) to the enemy’s 33
ships (30,000 men and 2,568 guns)
French/Spanish were led by Gravina and Villeneuve – they had a
strained relationship
British had two columns – Nelson and Collingwood – Nelson’s touch –
only signalled 9 times
HMS Victory – “pell mell” – badly damaged as she was under heavy
fire from 5 ships for 40 minutes
Atlantic swell meant that the French/Spanish could not establish their
positions
Point blank firing – French guns were powerful but inaccurate – you
can never go too wrong by putting your ship against an enemy one –
