The Royal Navy in European Waters during the American Revolutionary War (Studies in Maritime History) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "On 17 June 1775 the British army fought a bloody action with Massachusetts militia at Bunker Hill..." (more)
Key Phrases: ships carrying naval stores, unlimited convoys, warlike materials, Channel Fleet, Royal Navy, English Channel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

During the American Revolutionary War, Great Britain's Royal Navy faced foes that included, in addition to American forces, the navies of France, Spain and the Netherlands. In this operational history of a period that proved to be a turning point for one of the world's great naval powers, David Syrett presents a saga of battles, blockades, great fleet cruises and, above all, failures and lost opportunities. He explains that the British government severely underestimated the Americans' maritime strength and how that error led to devastating consequences. The seemingly invincible navy failed to muster even one decisive victory during the extensive naval conflict. Noting the complex reasons for British failure in European waters, Syrett lays primary blame at the feet of Britain's political leadership. He describes how Lord North, the first lord of the Treasury and head of government, abdicated control of Britain's military to individual members of the cabinet. Syrett suggests that constant vacillations in policy and strategy, which resulted from power shifts among the cabinet ministers, prevented North's government from formulating a comprehensive wartime strategy or providing the Royal navy with the strategic guidance to launch a successful campaign. Syrett concludes that Britain's inability to gain naval superiority in European waters had a profound effect on the outcome of the American Revolutionary War. He demonstrates how the Royal Navy's failure to hunt down and destroy American blockade runners allowed Yankee rebels easy access to European arms and munitions. He also shows that the inability of the British to defeat French and Spanish naval power off the Continent gave Bourbon monarchies the means to aid American naval forces and to conduct naval operations against the British in such areas as the West Indies and the Indian Ocean.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 213 pages
• Publisher: University of South Carolina Press; illustrated edition edition (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570032386
• ISBN-13: 978-1570032387
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,749,383 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Royal Navy in European Waters During the American Revolu, May 5, 2000

By	"rsbds" (Portugal) - See all my reviews

It's a good book!It gives you a real description of the Royal Navy during the American Revolution but lacks of descriptions of the Navy Ships; besides this detail,I recomend this book.

0 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bad, May 1, 2001

A Kid's Review

This not a good book