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Combat At Sea
UKTV History is riding the waves of maritime conflict with this illuminating thirteen-part series that charts the definitive account of ocean warfare. To coincide with this in-depth look at some of the world's mightiest warships and the men who commanded them, we're taking a quick glance at some of the most famous - and notorious - battles that have taken place over the course of man's bloody history.
The Spanish Armada
1588 saw the English taking on an invading Spanish fleet, following the fervently Catholic Philip of Spain's decision to lead Protestant England back to the Catholic faith - by force if necessary - from Elizabeth I. When the two fleets met in battle on July 29, the English emerged victorious, although the Spanish losses were not great, with only three ships reported sunk, one captured and four more ran aground. It was largely the unpredictable English weather that ensured victory; a succession of storms scattered the Spanish ships on their return voyage and by the time the tattered Armada regained Spain, it had lost half its ships and three-quarters of its men.
The Battle of the Nile
This mighty naval conflict was fought in Aboukir bay near Alexandria, Egypt, on the 1st and 2nd of August 1798. The British fleet was under the command of arguably the most skilful sea captain of all time - Horatio Viscount Nelson - and the French fleet under Admiral Paul D'Brueys. By attacking the French as night fell, this was a decisive victory for England and it thwarted Napoleon's aim to invade Egypt in order to constrict Britain's trade routes and threaten its possession of India. In this bloody battle of annihilation the British suffered 213 killed and 677 wounded, while the French had around 1400 killed and 600 wounded.
Battle of Trafalgar
It was the year of 1805, the year when it seemed that at long last Napoleon decided to invade England. Napoleon was still convinced that his united fleet could annihilate any squadron which the English could put to sea to meet it. However, he did not count on the unique talent of Nelson, who employed a battle tactic that was in complete contradiction with all the accepted rules of naval warfare, and defeated the French fleet off the coast of Cadiz. Despite this victory, the British losses were heavy; 449 killed - including Nelson himself - and 1,241 wounded. But of the 27 ships of the British fleet, not one had been sunk or captured.
Dunkirk
In May and June 1940 more than 300,000 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk and the surrounding beaches in the largest rescue mission in history. Following an underestimation of German military strength, hundreds of thousands of Allied troops were trapped on beaches in northern Europe, with the Germans cutting off practically all routes of escape. However a variety of motor boats, fishing smacks, trawlers, lifeboats, paddle steamers and many other types of small craft came to their aid, able to navigate through the shallow water. It was considered a miracle to have been successful and it captured the hearts and minds of the British people.
The Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was a fight for Britain's very survival. Winston Churchill claimed that the 'U-boat peril' was the only thing that ever really frightened him during The Second World War. If Germany had prevented merchant ships from carrying food, raw materials, and troops from North America to Britain, Britain might have been starved into submission and her armies would not have been equipped with American-built tanks and vehicles. However, this lifeline was preserved thanks to help from long range aircraft and 'ultra intelligence' after the Royal Navy seized an Enigma machine from a captured U-boat in May 1941. Armed with information about where U-boats were patrolling, the British were able to move convoys in safe areas and keep the lifeline open throughout the war.
The Battle of Midway
This WWII sea battle was fought near the Central Pacific island of Midway and is considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. Before this battle the Japanese were on the offensive, capturing territory throughout Asia and the Pacific. By their attack, the Japanese had planned to capture Midway to use as an advance base, as well as to entrap and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. However, because of successful special intelligence, the U.S. Pacific Fleet surprised the Japanese forces, sinking the four Japanese carriers, that had attacked Pearl Harbor only six months before, while only losing of one carrier. After Midway, the Americans and their Allies took the offensive in the Pacific and the rest is history.
Find out more:
British Maritime History
Conflicts at Sea
1588 saw the English taking on an invading Spanish fleet, following the fervently Catholic Philip of Spain's decision to lead Protestant England back to the Catholic faith - by force if necessary - from Elizabeth I. When the two fleets met in battle on July 29, the English emerged victorious, although the Spanish losses were not great, with only three ships reported sunk, one captured and four more ran aground. It was largely the unpredictable English weather that ensured victory; a succession of storms scattered the Spanish ships on their return voyage and by the time the tattered Armada regained Spain, it had lost half its ships and three-quarters of its men.
The Battle of the Nile
This mighty naval conflict was fought in Aboukir bay near Alexandria, Egypt, on the 1st and 2nd of August 1798. The British fleet was under the command of arguably the most skilful sea captain of all time - Horatio Viscount Nelson - and the French fleet under Admiral Paul D'Brueys. By attacking the French as night fell, this was a decisive victory for England and it thwarted Napoleon's aim to invade Egypt in order to constrict Britain's trade routes and threaten its possession of India. In this bloody battle of annihilation the British suffered 213 killed and 677 wounded, while the French had around 1400 killed and 600 wounded.
Battle of Trafalgar
It was the year of 1805, the year when it seemed that at long last Napoleon decided to invade England. Napoleon was still convinced that his united fleet could annihilate any squadron which the English could put to sea to meet it. However, he did not count on the unique talent of Nelson, who employed a battle tactic that was in complete contradiction with all the accepted rules of naval warfare, and defeated the French fleet off the coast of Cadiz. Despite this victory, the British losses were heavy; 449 killed - including Nelson himself - and 1,241 wounded. But of the 27 ships of the British fleet, not one had been sunk or captured.
Dunkirk
In May and June 1940 more than 300,000 troops were evacuated from Dunkirk and the surrounding beaches in the largest rescue mission in history. Following an underestimation of German military strength, hundreds of thousands of Allied troops were trapped on beaches in northern Europe, with the Germans cutting off practically all routes of escape. However a variety of motor boats, fishing smacks, trawlers, lifeboats, paddle steamers and many other types of small craft came to their aid, able to navigate through the shallow water. It was considered a miracle to have been successful and it captured the hearts and minds of the British people.
The Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was a fight for Britain's very survival. Winston Churchill claimed that the 'U-boat peril' was the only thing that ever really frightened him during The Second World War. If Germany had prevented merchant ships from carrying food, raw materials, and troops from North America to Britain, Britain might have been starved into submission and her armies would not have been equipped with American-built tanks and vehicles. However, this lifeline was preserved thanks to help from long range aircraft and 'ultra intelligence' after the Royal Navy seized an Enigma machine from a captured U-boat in May 1941. Armed with information about where U-boats were patrolling, the British were able to move convoys in safe areas and keep the lifeline open throughout the war.
The Battle of Midway
This WWII sea battle was fought near the Central Pacific island of Midway and is considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. Before this battle the Japanese were on the offensive, capturing territory throughout Asia and the Pacific. By their attack, the Japanese had planned to capture Midway to use as an advance base, as well as to entrap and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. However, because of successful special intelligence, the U.S. Pacific Fleet surprised the Japanese forces, sinking the four Japanese carriers, that had attacked Pearl Harbor only six months before, while only losing of one carrier. After Midway, the Americans and their Allies took the offensive in the Pacific and the rest is history.
Find out more:
British Maritime History
Conflicts at Sea
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