DOCSLIB.ORG

Sails of Glory Battle for the Seas a Sails of Glory Campaign

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Sails Of Glory Battle for the Seas A Sails of Glory Campaign Time Sometime during the Napoleonic Wars 1803-1805. Info about the Campaign After Napoleon had won many great victories on land in Europe, and crushed every country in battle. France was the dominating power in Europe on land and the English were masters of the sea. Behind their wooden wall of ships, they were relatively safe from any invasion force. Napoleon wanted to change this and invade England. In March 1802 a peace treaty was signed between France and England in Amiens, France. But both countries were irritated and angry with each other’s actions in the aftermath of the peace treaty, and it was an uneasy peace. And after some diplomatic quarrels England declared war on France again in May 1803. After war broke out again, Napoleon started preparation for invasion of England – but to have success, he needed to take out the English fleet that protected the English Channel. From 1803 to 1805 a new army of 150 000-200,000 men, known as the Armée des côtes de l'Océan (Army of the Ocean Coasts) or the Armée d'Angleterre (Army of England), was gathered and trained at camps at Boulogne, Bruges and Montreuil. A large "National Flotilla" of invasion barges was built in Channel ports along the coasts of France and the Netherlands. A fleet of nearly 2000 craft. At the same time he made plans with the Spanish to assemble a large fleet, which was strong enough to challenge the English Navy, and make it possible for Napoleon to invade England. British strategy rested on the defensive, waiting for the French navy to make the first move. Late in 1804, however, Spain joined the war as an ally of France, giving Napoleon the ships he needed to challenge Britain. This campaign follows the struggle between The French Navy and The English Navy, in the lead up to the battle of Trafalgar. The last scenario you participate in will be The Battle of Trafalgar. The players have the chance to alter history by achieving naval victories, which can change the course of history as we know it. Maybe the French will win decisive battles before the Battle at Trafalgar, and weaken the English so much that an Invasion is made possible. Or The English will make sure that the Battle of Trafalgar only is one of many humiliating defeats, and that France will suffer. And break their morale even before the great battle of Trafalgar occurs. You will fight through 12 different scenarios that are relevant for the specified time frame and general history. For every scenario you will be given/gain points for success or failure. Your loss of ships in points will be given to your enemy. Those points will follow you throughout the campaign so every battle counts – and in the end the winner with the highest score will win the campaign. You will need to purchase some French and English ships to play this campaign .In some scenarios you may use other ships with the same values if you don’t have the ship names. For playability some ship names will appear again in same scenarios. And it may feel wrong if you have sunk that ship in a previous scenario. But the ship names may be altered and is only used to identify witch ship type that is fighting in the scenario, rather than one specific ship. Players may decide to use one or two play mats. If they choose two play mats, the scenarios it may take longer to play, but the ships gets a larger play area and will be more fun when you have the large battles. Some of the scenarios may be a little bit more challenging for one part, if two maps are used, but it will add more fun to the game. The Best captain will prevail throughout the different battles and make sure his objective doesn’t come at a too high cost. 1 Scenario Nr.1 ( The French Raider ) Info History A French warship has been raiding English trade ships and struck fear into the crews and captains. Like a ghost ship it appears and disappears before any English warship can come to aid. The English Navy has been searching for the ship for many months, before it is spotted not far from an English harbor. The English Navy scrambles what ships they have and send them after it in hope to sink or capture her. Ships Involved The French Navy ( Total 102 Points ) 64 Gun The Artesian ( 102 Points ) The English Navy ( Total 136 Points ) 32 Gun HMS Cleopatra ( 68 Points ) 32 Gun HMS Castor ( 68 Points ) Game Setup The Artesian is placed in the middle of the map. And the two English ships in the south edge of the map. The Weather The weather is clouded with some rain showers occasionally. When it rains, visibility is halved and long range combat not allowed. The chance of rain is 20 % every turn. Roll a dice to see if it is raining. When it rains, it will rain for 2-6 rounds before it stops. When it rains chance of fire is also halved. The direction and strength of wind is drawn randomly at the first turn, and then every 6 turns after that. Ending terms The Scenario ends if all players’ ships have been lost or escaped by sailing their ship out of the game map. There are following special rules before a ship may escape from battle: For the French player, he must sink or capture one of the two ships that are hunting him. For the English player he must have lost one ship before he may flee with the last. If the French player wins this scenario (English player flees or loses his ships) he receives 75 points bonus. If the English manage to sink or capture the French ship, they get the same bonus. Tactics The French have a much stronger ship than the English. And he must try to engage one ship at the time if possible. The French ship is slower and harder to navigate, The English ships may use this as an advantage to navigate into a good firing position and keep out of the broadside of the French ship. Combined the English ships have better firepower than the French ship, but they are weak and fragile ships. If the French ship gets a full broadside on one of them, he can put them out of action. 2 Scenario Nr.2 ( An Important Mission ) Info History The French Ship Bertin is on its way back to France with vital cargo from an important transport mission. She is an old East Indian trading ship, but has been refitted with extra guns due to the importance of her mission. Just outside the west coast of Africa, she is spotted by two English warships. They set course to intercept her and win another glorious victory for the English crown. The captain knows he can’t outrun the English and fears that his mission will fail. Just when everything seems hopeless he spots another ship in the horizon. A closer look brings hope to the crew of the Bertin when it is flying French colors. If they may only survive until help arrives. Ships Involved The French Navy ( Total 232 Points ) 64 Gun Bertin ( 89 Points ) 74 Gun Fougueux ( 143 Points ) The English Navy ( Total 222 Points ) 50 Gun HMS Leopard (96 points ) 64 Gun HMS Africa ( 126 points ) Game Setup The Bertin starts from South of the map. The English warships start in the middle of the East side of the Map. The French ship Fougueux starts in the middle of the North of the map. The French ship Bertin must survive for the French to win the scenario. If only the Fougueux remains, the scenario is a draw. There is no time limit, since the Bertin can’t outrun the English warships – it has to survive until the English are destroyed or run away. The Weather The wind is coming from south west and the weather is clear. The sea is calm and normal so it is a perfect time for a sea battle. Ending terms If one of the players loses all ships due to combat, or has fled the gaming area. Following extra rules must be fulfilled before any player flees the battleground: - The French player can only flee with Fougueux. If he does so, he leaves Bertin to fight for itself. - The English may not flee before they have lost one ship. Ships that flee are not considered as loss when counting points at the end of the Scenario. 3 Tactics The ships are about same values, with the French having a slightly higher point value. But the English have an advantageous position, and they may divide and split up the lone ships to combine their fire power. The French must use all their sailing skills to join forces if they want to survive, or they will be taken out one by one by the British. Scenario Nr.3 ( English Blockade ) Info History On 27 March 1802, France, under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte, and Britain ended their hostilities with the Treaty of Amiens. The peace was short-lived, however, as the British and French declared war again on 16 May 1803. Napoleon prepared for the invasion of Britain, but the Royal Navy controlled the English Channel. Napoleon sought to weaken Britain with the "Continental System," a measure that closed all European ports to British merchant vessels.
Recommended publications
  • Archived Content Information Archivée Dans Le

    Archived Content Information Archivée Dans Le

    Archived Content Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or record-keeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page. Information archivée dans le Web Information archivée dans le Web à des fins de consultation, de recherche ou de tenue de documents. Cette dernière n’a aucunement été modifiée ni mise à jour depuis sa date de mise en archive. Les pages archivées dans le Web ne sont pas assujetties aux normes qui s’appliquent aux sites Web du gouvernement du Canada. Conformément à la Politique de communication du gouvernement du Canada, vous pouvez demander de recevoir cette information dans tout autre format de rechange à la page « Contactez-nous ». CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE / COLLÈGE DES FORCES CANADIENNES CSC 28 / CCEM 28 MASTER OF DEFENCE STUDIES (MDS) THESIS THE CORVETTE - A SHIP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY CANADIAN NAVY LA CORVETTE - UN NAVIRE POUR LA MARINE CANADIENNE DU 21E SIÈCLE By/par LCdr/capc Pierre Bédard This paper was written by a student attending La présente étude a été rédigée par un stagiaire the Canadian Forces College in fulfilment of one du Collège des Forces canadiennes pour of the requirements of the Course of Studies. satisfaire à l'une des exigences du cours. The paper is a scholastic document, and thus L'étude est un document qui se rapporte au contains facts and opinions, which the author cours et contient donc des faits et des opinions alone considered appropriate and correct for que seul l'auteur considère appropriés et the subject.
  • An Ambiguous Partnership: Great Britain and the Free French Navy, 1940-19421

    An Ambiguous Partnership: Great Britain and the Free French Navy, 1940-19421

    An Ambiguous Partnership: Great Britain and the Free French Navy, 1940-19421 Hugues Canuel On se souvient aujourd’hui des forces de la France libre en raison de faits d’armes tels que leur courageuse résistance à Bir Hakeim en 1942 et la participation du général Leclerc à la libération de Paris en 1944. Par contre, la contribution antérieure de la marine de la France libre est moins bien connue : elle a donné à de Gaulle, dont l’espoir était alors bien mince, les moyens de mobiliser des appuis politiques au sein de l’empire colonial français et d’apporter une contribution militaire précoce à la cause des Alliés. Cette capacité s’est développée à la suite de l’appui modeste mais tout de même essentiel du Royaume-Uni, un allié qui se méfiait de fournir les ressources absolument nécessaires à une flotte qu’il ne contrôlait pas complètement mais dont les actions pourraient aider la Grande- Bretagne qui se trouvait alors presque seule contre les puissances de l’Axe. Friday 27 November 1942 marked the nadir of French sea power in the twentieth century. Forewarned that German troops arrayed around the Mediterranean base of Toulon were intent on seizing the fleet at dawn, Admiral Jean de Laborde – Commander of the Force de Haute Mer, the High Seas Force – and the local Maritime Prefect, Vice Admiral André Marquis, ordered the immediate scuttling of all ships and submarines at their berths. Some 248,800 tons of capital ships, escorts, auxiliaries and submarines was scuttled as the Wehrmacht closed in on the dockyard.2 The French “Vichy navy” virtually ceased to exist that day.
  • French Armed Forces Update November 2020

    French Armed Forces Update November 2020

    French Armed Forces Update November 2020 This paper is NOT an official publication from the French Armed Forces. It provides an update on the French military operations and main activities. The French Defense Attaché Office has drafted it in accordance with open publications. The French Armed Forces are heavily deployed both at home and overseas. On the security front, the terrorist threat is still assessed as high in France and operation “Sentinelle” (Guardian) is still going on. Overseas, the combat units are extremely active against a determined enemy and the French soldiers are constantly adapting their courses of action and their layout plans to the threat. Impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the French Armed Forces have resumed their day-to-day activities and operations under the sign of transformation and modernization. DeuxIN huss arMEMORIAMds parachut istes tués par un engin explosif improvisé au Mali | Zone Militaire 09/09/2020 11:16 SHARE On September 5th, during a control operation within the Tessalit + region, three hussards were seriously injured after the explosion & of an Improvised Explosive Device. Despite the provision of + immediate care and their quick transportation to the hospital, the ! hussard parachutiste de 1ère classe Arnaud Volpe and + brigadier-chef S.T1 died from their injuries. ' + ( Après la perte du hussard de 1ere classe Tojohasina Razafintsalama, le On23 November 12th, during a routine mission in the vicinity of juillet, lors d’une attaque suicide commise avec un VBIED [véhicule piégé], le 1er Régiment de Hussards Parachutistes [RHP] a une nouvelle fois été Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, nine members of the Multinational endeuillé, ce 5 septembre.
  • Hornblower's Ships

    Hornblower's Ships

    Names of Ships from the Hornblower Books. Introduction Hornblower’s biographer, C S Forester, wrote eleven books covering the most active and dramatic episodes of the life of his subject. In addition, he also wrote a Hornblower “Companion” and the so called three “lost” short stories. There were some years and activities in Hornblower’s life that were not written about before the biographer’s death and therefore not recorded. However, the books and stories that were published describe not only what Hornblower did and thought about his life and career but also mentioned in varying levels of detail the people and the ships that he encountered. Hornblower of course served on many ships but also fought with and against them, captured them, sank them or protected them besides just being aware of them. Of all the ships mentioned, a handful of them would have been highly significant for him. The Indefatigable was the ship on which Midshipman and then Acting Lieutenant Hornblower mostly learnt and developed his skills as a seaman and as a fighting man. This learning continued with his experiences on the Renown as a lieutenant. His first commands, apart from prizes taken, were on the Hotspur and the Atropos. Later as a full captain, he took the Lydia round the Horn to the Pacific coast of South America and his first and only captaincy of a ship of the line was on the Sutherland. He first flew his own flag on the Nonsuch and sailed to the Baltic on her. In later years his ships were smaller as befitted the nature of the tasks that fell to him.
  • The Electric Telegraph

    The Electric Telegraph

    To Mark, Karen and Paul CONTENTS page ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENTS TO 1837 13 Early experiments—Francis Ronalds—Cooke and Wheatstone—successful experiment on the London & Birmingham Railway 2 `THE CORDS THAT HUNG TAWELL' 29 Use on the Great Western and Blackwall railways—the Tawell murder—incorporation of the Electric Tele- graph Company—end of the pioneering stage 3 DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE COMPANIES 46 Early difficulties—rivalry between the Electric and the Magnetic—the telegraph in London—the overhouse system—private telegraphs and the press 4 AN ANALYSIS OF THE TELEGRAPH INDUSTRY TO 1868 73 The inland network—sources of capital—the railway interest—analysis of shareholdings—instruments- working expenses—employment of women—risks of submarine telegraphy—investment rating 5 ACHIEVEMENT IN SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHY I o The first cross-Channel links—the Atlantic cable— links with India—submarine cable maintenance com- panies 6 THE CASE FOR PUBLIC ENTERPRISE 119 Background to the nationalisation debate—public attitudes—the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce— Frank Ives. Scudamore reports—comparison with continental telegraph systems 7 NATIONALISATION 1868 138 Background to the Telegraph Bill 1868—tactics of the 7 8 CONTENTS Page companies—attitudes of the press—the political situa- tion—the Select Committee of 1868—agreement with the companies 8 THE TELEGRAPH ACTS 154 Terms granted to the telegraph and railway companies under the 1868 Act—implications of the 1869 telegraph monopoly 9 THE POST OFFICE TELEGRAPH 176 The period 87o-1914—reorganisation of the
  • Collision Between Hms Relentless & Hms Vigilant

    Collision Between Hms Relentless & Hms Vigilant

    COLLISION BETWEEN HMS RELENTLESS & HMS VIGILANT Throughout the evening and night of 26th / 27th October 1954, HMS RELENTLESS and HMS VIGILANT, both type 15 frigates, were conducting anti-submarine exercises as they made the transit south through the Minch Channel. The channel is between 20 and 45 miles wide and some 70 miles long and separates the Hebrides from the Scottish mainland. Today, the channel is a busy shipping lane carrying some 2.5 million tonnes of shipping each year. There is no reason to believe the channel was any less busy in 1954 in terms of the number of ships however, the gross tonnage would have been considerably less. At approximately 0415 on the 27th, in response to a signal from RELENTLESS, the VIGILANT was manoeuvring to be astern of RELENTLESS when the ships collided. RELENTLESS rammed VIGILANT on her port side taking out the Wardroom Pantry and a not inconsiderable amount of Wardroom and upper deck fittings. Fortunately, there were no injuries, other than to the pride of a number of people. The damage to the RELENTLESS’ bow section was substantial although both ships managed to make Greenock unaided. Both were dry docked and VIGILANT, once repaired was soon back at sea. RELENTLESS however, despite being made seaworthy, was put into refit in Chatham but in May 1955 was paid off into Category One Reserve. It is unclear from the newspaper reports which follow, how the collision actually happened but the fact that neither ship had navigation lights on may well have been a factor... The Glasgow Herald, Saturday December 4th 1954.
  • 85 Jun2020 Draft 1

    85 Jun2020 Draft 1

    EDITORIAL One of the hopes attached to Having met many Club members both the Anglican chapel (restored 2011, this newsletter is that it will here in my home territory of Menorca, our 300th anniversary). These also attract the attention of and at other Club events, I was buildings are directly under the main people who are not already delighted to be invited to write again tower in the photo. Club members members of about the Isla del Rey, site of the first- have yet to see this new development, The 1805 Dispatches #21.01 The 1805 Club. ever purpose-built Royal Naval and there is much more! The first floor February 2021 Membership of The 1805 Club Hospital. We hope to organise another of the main building is being turned is open to everyone, every- enjoyable and educational visit some into a Centre of Interpretation for the where, who supports the time in 2021, once the COVID crisis history of Menorca, and we already purposes of the Club and has settled and freedom of travel is have English and French rooms in shares its interests. Its historical again facilitated. place, plus another showing the and social events are marked The photo here shows the whole development of the Port of Mahon, THE1805by their genuinely friendly hospital structure as DISPATCHES seen today. Built from its return to Christianity in 1287 atmosphere. in 1711 by the Royal Navy to service to present day. More rooms are under Issue 21.01 Consequently, it is further their substantial Mediterranean fleet, it construction. hoped that this newsletter will latterly reverted to operating as a Another really exciting innovationFebruary 2021 appear in various new online Spanish military hospital after the opening in 2021 will be in the long, venues, so we encourage its British left finally in 1802, and it low Admiral Langara Building sited in disseminationTHE and only ask NEWSLETTER that remained in service untilOF 1964, THE when front1805 of the main CL hospital.UB The world- you clear it with the editor it was abandoned and fell into ruin.
  • Rhode Island History Winter/Spring 2009 Volume 67, Number 1

    Rhode Island History Winter/Spring 2009 Volume 67, Number 1

    Rhode Island History Winter/Spring 2009 Volume 67, Number 1 Published by The Rhode Island Historical Society Contents 110 Benevolent Street Providence, Rhode Island 02906-3152 Cato Pearce’s Memoir: A Rhode Island Slave Narrative 3 Robert J. Manning, president William S. Simmons, first vice president Christian M. McBurney Barbara J. Thornton, second vice president Peter J. Miniati, treasurer Robert G. Flanders Jr., secretary Bernard P. Fishman, director The Forgotten Ships of the Battle of Rhode Island: Some Unpublished Documents 27 Fellow of the society Glenn W. LaFantasie D. K. Abbass Publications Committee Luther Spoehr, chair James Findlay Robert Allen Greene Robert W. Hayman Jane Lancaster J. Stanley Lemons William McKenzie Woodward Staff Elizabeth C. Stevens, editor Hilliard Beller, copy editor Silvia Rees, publications assistant The Rhode Island Historical Society assumes no responsibility for the opinions of contributors. RHODE ISLAND HISTORY is published two times a year by the Rhode Island Historical Society at 110 Benevolent Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02906-3152. Postage is paid at Providence, Rhode Island. Society members receive each issue as a membership benefit. Institutional subscriptions to RHODE ISLAND HISTORY are $25.00 annually. Individual copies of current and back issues are available from the Society for $8.00 (price includes postage and handling). Manuscripts and other ©2009 by The Rhode Island Historical Society correspondence should be sent to Dr. Elizabeth C. Stevens, editor, at the RHODE ISLAND HISTORY (ISSN 0035-4619) Society or to [email protected]. Christian McBurney, an independent historian, is a partner with the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP in Washington, D.C.
  • Setting Sail

    Setting Sail

    104.5mm 104.75mm 104.75mm 106mm Nelson Gallery Sailing Navy Gallery Sailing Navy Gallery Go to the display case immediately on your right Now turn to face the portraits on the back wall. Continue round the corner to the other side of this case. 11 15 as you enter. 18 Look at the picture in the middle. Creamware Frog mug Ship models made by French Captain Sir Harry Burrard Neale Staffordshire potteries discovered creamware whilst trying Prisoners of War Painted by Sir William to find a substitute for Chinese porcelain. It is made from Beechey. He studied During the Napoleonic Wars French prisoners were kept white Cornish Clay with a translucent glaze, creating the at the Royal Academy Setting in Portsmouth Dockyard. They carved to occupy their cream colour. Frog mugs originated in Sunderland, and in 1772. Some of his time and make money for extra food. As the daily food later Staffordshire and Worcestershire. smaller portraits gained ration included half a pound of meat on the bone, it was him considerable readily available as a raw material. Interestingly, for the reputation and he rigging, they often used their own hair. A sombre mug with a joke inside. began to be employed Very curious! We wondered why such by the nobility until in Sail a solemn scene on the outside was 1793 he was made We like the craftsmanship, combined with a frog on the inside. portrait-painter to there is such attention to Did Nelson have a frog in his throat! Queen Charlotte. detail! It is like recycling as they used the bones left over from their Now walk right to the back of the gallery.
  • The Chesapeake Affair Nick Mann

    The Chesapeake Affair Nick Mann

    58 Western Illinois Historical Review © 2011 Vol. III, Spring 2011 ISSN 2153-1714 Sailors Board Me Now: The Chesapeake Affair Nick Mann In exploring the origins of the War of 1812, many historians view the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe as the final breaking point in diplomatic relations between the United States and Great Britain. While the clash at Tippecanoe was a serious blow to peace between the two nations, Anglo-American relations had already been ruptured well before the presidency of James Madison. Indian affairs certainly played a role in starting the war, but it was at sea where the core problems lay. I will argue in this essay that rather than the Battle of Tippecanoe, it was the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair of 1807 that set Great Britain and the United States on the path towards war. The affair signified two of the festering issues facing the British and Americans: impressment and neutral rights. Though President Jefferson was able to prevent war in 1807, his administration‟s inept diplomacy widened the existing gap between Britain and America. On both sides of the Atlantic, the inability of leaders such as Secretary of State Madison and the British foreign minister, George Canning to resolve the affair poisoned diplomatic relations for years afterward. To understand the origin of the War of 1812, one must consider how the Chesapeake affair deteriorated Anglo-American relations to a degree that the Battle of Tippecanoe was less important that some have imagined. The clash at Tippecanoe between Governor William Henry Harrison and the forces of the Shawnee Prophet has usually been seen as the direct catalyst for the war in much of the historiography dealing with the War of 1812.
  • History of the Royal Marines 1837-1914 HE Blumberg

    History of the Royal Marines 1837-1914 HE Blumberg

    History of the Royal Marines 1837-1914 HE Blumberg (Minor editing by Alastair Donald) In preparing this Record I have consulted, wherever possible, the original reports, Battalion War and other Diaries, accounts in Globe and Laurel, etc. The War Office Official Accounts, where extant, the London Gazettes, and Orders in Council have been taken as the basis of events recounted, and I have made free use of the standard histories, eg History of the British Army (Fortescue), History of the Navy (Laird Clowes), Britain's Sea Soldiers (Field), etc. Also the Lives of Admirals and Generals bearing on the campaigns. The authorities consulted have been quoted for each campaign, in order that those desirous of making a fuller study can do so. I have made no pretence of writing a history or making comments, but I have tried to place on record all facts which can show the development of the Corps through the Nineteenth and early part of the Twentieth Centuries. H E BLUMBERG Devonport January, 1934 1 P A R T I 1837 – 1839 The Long Peace On 20 June, 1837, Her Majesty Queen Victoria ascended the Throne and commenced the long reign which was to bring such glory and honour to England, but the year found the fortunes of the Corps at a very low ebb. The numbers voted were 9007, but the RM Artillery had officially ceased to exist - a School of Laboratory and nominally two companies quartered at Fort Cumberland as part of the Portsmouth Division only being maintained. The Portsmouth Division were still in the old inadequate Clarence Barracks in the High Street; Plymouth and Chatham were in their present barracks, which had not then been enlarged to their present size, and Woolwich were in the western part of the Royal Artillery Barracks.
  • The United States Navy Looks at Its African American Crewmen, 1755-1955

    The United States Navy Looks at Its African American Crewmen, 1755-1955

    “MANY OF THEM ARE AMONG MY BEST MEN”: THE UNITED STATES NAVY LOOKS AT ITS AFRICAN AMERICAN CREWMEN, 1755-1955 by MICHAEL SHAWN DAVIS B.A., Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 1991 M.A., Kansas State University, 1995 AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of History College of Arts and Sciences KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2011 Abstract Historians of the integration of the American military and African American military participation have argued that the post-World War II period was the critical period for the integration of the U.S. Navy. This dissertation argues that World War II was “the” critical period for the integration of the Navy because, in addition to forcing the Navy to change its racial policy, the war altered the Navy’s attitudes towards its African American personnel. African Americans have a long history in the U.S. Navy. In the period between the French and Indian War and the Civil War, African Americans served in the Navy because whites would not. This is especially true of the peacetime service, where conditions, pay, and discipline dissuaded most whites from enlisting. During the Civil War, a substantial number of escaped slaves and other African Americans served. Reliance on racially integrated crews survived beyond the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, only to succumb to the principle of “separate but equal,” validated by the Supreme Court in the Plessy case (1896). As racial segregation took hold and the era of “Jim Crow” began, the Navy separated the races, a task completed by the time America entered World War I.