Enjoying this series! I read O’Brian as fiction—for me the technicalities of seamanship are akin to the handwaving technobabble of Star Trek, more important for atmosphere than their accuracy. And yet the fiction is robust enough to be undamaged by the facts, and knowing more about the real Royal Navy enhances rather than reduces my enjoyment. So keep ‘em coming, hot and hot!
224903. I enjoy these posts, and love the O'Brians Aubrey-Maturin series. Your evaluation of British versus French and Spanish ship designs is very good. But the differences between the fleets that gave the British the edge were first, superior ability to stay at sea for long periods, which allowed the British to send ships (such as "Surprise" and others) around the world. This arose from need to blockade and the need to protect a world-wide empire. The second advantage was in gunfire. The British practice of delivering three broadsides in five minutes was twice as fast as the other navies, and took a tremendous toll in battle.
The greatest British advantage was its very professional officer corps, where promotion and income depended on proven ability. The officer selection boards for lieutenant, and the step promotion to Captain, were competitive and rigorously administered. Unlike the Army, promotion was based mostly on merit, not wealth or connections. I could go on, about the professionalism of the Navy Board (as distinct from the Board of Admiralty), and the like.
I don't know about Maturin's adventures as a spy having much basis in fact, but the rest of his description of the Royal Navy seems pretty well-researched and accurate.
Enjoying this series! I read O’Brian as fiction—for me the technicalities of seamanship are akin to the handwaving technobabble of Star Trek, more important for atmosphere than their accuracy. And yet the fiction is robust enough to be undamaged by the facts, and knowing more about the real Royal Navy enhances rather than reduces my enjoyment. So keep ‘em coming, hot and hot!
Thanks Joshua!
I grew up on the Hornblower novels and for both author and character - French frigates were in a class by themselves!
224903. I enjoy these posts, and love the O'Brians Aubrey-Maturin series. Your evaluation of British versus French and Spanish ship designs is very good. But the differences between the fleets that gave the British the edge were first, superior ability to stay at sea for long periods, which allowed the British to send ships (such as "Surprise" and others) around the world. This arose from need to blockade and the need to protect a world-wide empire. The second advantage was in gunfire. The British practice of delivering three broadsides in five minutes was twice as fast as the other navies, and took a tremendous toll in battle.
The greatest British advantage was its very professional officer corps, where promotion and income depended on proven ability. The officer selection boards for lieutenant, and the step promotion to Captain, were competitive and rigorously administered. Unlike the Army, promotion was based mostly on merit, not wealth or connections. I could go on, about the professionalism of the Navy Board (as distinct from the Board of Admiralty), and the like.
I don't know about Maturin's adventures as a spy having much basis in fact, but the rest of his description of the Royal Navy seems pretty well-researched and accurate.