The war for the independence of the United States have clearly shown that it is essential the people of the state of their own Navy. The American revolution pushed many outstanding personalities, including such outstanding military leaders as Admiral John Paul Jones. Especially remarkable was the victory in a single battle between his flagship, the “Bonhomme Richard” and the British frigate “Serapis” on 23 September 1779, which ended in favour of the former colonists. However, such bright scenes could not hide the picture of complete domination of the powerful British Navy. The British almost completely suppressed trade and freely maneuvered his troops and transport them along the coast. In fact, only the intervention of France in the war at sea tipped the scales in favor of the “rebels”.
“OAK FRIGATES”
From the point of view of war at sea the eighteenth century has largely been a century frigates. For over a hundred years three major powers of Europe were engaged in a military struggle, often in the most remote corners of the globe. The war of the Austrian succession, Seven years war, the war for independence of the North American States, finally, the Napoleonic wars… At every opportunity, England, France and Spain entered the confrontation, hoping the campaign to acquire overseas possessions of the enemy. Of course, when military action occurred over many thousands of miles from Europe, the importance of acquired fleet. And not only ships of the line, formed the basis of combat squadrons, but also smaller vessels — frigates and corvettes capable of a cruising operation as the composition of the group, and alone.
Civil war in USA was suddenly brought to the fore a small improvised cruisers who have achieved outstanding success. However, this does not mean that such ships are immediately received universal recognition. Before, during, and after the exploits of the “Alabama” and “Florida” in all countries legislators naval fashion continued construction of large steam frigates, which was still considered most appropriate for action on ocean communications.
The Crimean war clearly demonstrated the decisive superiority of steam ships over sailing. However, in tactical and in strategic terms, the role of the fleet has not changed. Admirals still believed that fighting at sea can be won only through a General engagement of the opposing squadrons. It took another war, this time civil, in order to understand how the situation could change if the idea of war cruising on the ocean trade routes.
the First British battleship “warrior” with his appearance in 1861 changed naval “table of ranks” in the most radical way. He and other armored frigates suddenly swept from the stage as the wooden ships of the line, and although armed with powerful artillery, but unprotected counterparts. Typical of the cruiser, in fact, become the new battleships. It is not surprising that the designers soon had the idea to do the same operation with units of smaller size.
In the decades after the civil war ghosts lucky raiders — armed ships of the southerners was a constant headache to the lords of the British Admiralty. In the event of war with such countries as all the same, the United States, or France, or, for example, Russia, have become a real threat to be found in the seas already dozens of enemy auxiliary cruisers. Besides, over the years, the characteristics of possible candidates in the raiders kept on rising. The best ships had a very decent speed and the shipowners the government specifically pay extra for a more durable design, allowing, if necessary, to set them on a very solid rifled guns of a caliber of 6 inches In such circumstances, numerous corvettes and sloops “mistress of the seas” lost technical superiority over makeshift opponents. Of course, the military remained the advantage of a ship with a disciplined and trained team, but it might not be enough for a confident victory in battle one on one. Needed a solution that allowed staff of cruisers once again regain its dominant force.
For the UK the 90-ies of the XIX century was both a time of triumph and anxiety. On the one hand, its fleet was still able to oppose to each ship, any enemy two or even three. On the other hand, Empire every couple of years to grow new territories and peoples; for such an extensive economy required a constant supervision. Increased the number of “countries envious” capable of delivering the mistress of the seas of trouble in the event of armed conflict.
Included in the First world war later than the other great (or applying for this role) powers, Italy was behind them in many branches of naval Affairs. And probably not due to a lack of creative ideas and their own theorists and designers, but because of the “little things” of a technical nature, the usual for countries that are somehow chained to the lack of resources and backwardness of the material base. This fully applies to the submarine fleet of the Mediterranean Kingdom.
4 Dec 1867, took place at the first sight unremarkable event that opened is actually a completely new era in military shipbuilding. The stocks of the steel company “William Armstrong and company”, noted for his work in the field of armaments and hydraulics, in the waters of the river Tyne in Newcastle went first built it the ship — the gunboat “Staunch”. The value of the birth of this small gunboats designed by firm Manager George Ringelem, it is difficult to overestimate. Tiny ship, which cost just 6700 pounds, became the ancestor of a number of warships, primarily cruisers, the glory “Armstrong” and transformed the enterprises of the average breeder in this Empire arms.
The victory over France in the war of 1870 opened to the Federation of German States, formed under the auspices of Prussia, a completely new Outlook In Central Europe is variegated carpet of the numerous Duchies, counties, kingdoms and markkraft appeared a powerful state that had access to the two seas — the North and the Baltic In its composition was the seaside city, once part of the Hanseatic League, the strongest of the medieval sea trade of the company Clear the views of the rulers of a United Germany sooner or later had to turn to the ocean The more successful in almost all respects, the war with France proved to be completely ineffective for the Prussian fleet is Disproportionately weak, compared to the Navy’s second naval power of the world, he, nevertheless, was rebuilt several steamers of the Lloyd auxiliary of the cruiser and tried to use them for actions on communications of the enemy.