| The 10 Most Decisive Naval Battles | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 18 2011, 01:22 PM (2,064 Views) | |
| Basil Fawlty | Nov 18 2011, 01:22 PM Post #1 |
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Post Tenebras Lux
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A proposed list of ten of the most decisive naval battles in history, organized by force of direct impact. I distinguish this from total historical influence, since that would automatically place older engagements at the top. As with any list, the rankings are somewhat arbitrary. Contrary opinions are welcome. 10. Manila Bay, 1898 The Spanish-American War was decided in Cuba, but Manila Bay brought the Philippines under American control. It transformed the United States into a truly global colonial power and set the stage for future confrontation with Japan. 9. Lepanto, 1571 The Holy League defeat of the Ottoman Turks swung the naval balance back toward Christian Europe. The Mediterranean increasingly fell under European control in the next two centuries. 8. Second Hakata Bay, 1281 Japan's "divine wind" kills 100,000 Mongols and preserves the country's autonomy. After 1281, the Mongols never attempted to invade again. Not a battle in the traditional sense, but decisive nonetheless. 7. Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 1588 Saved England from invasion and thereby changed the course of British political, religious, and colonial history. 6. The Nile, 1798 Nelson's victory eliminated 10% of Napoleon's veteran sailors and set the stage for British control of the Mediterranean, and ultimately, all seas. 5. Actium, 31 BC The naval battle that transformed Gaius Octavius into Augustus, and the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. 4. Salamis, 480 BC Athenians defeat the Persian fleet, ending the external threat to Greek independence -- and Western Civilization as we know it. 3. Tsushima, 1905 Tsushima signaled the rise of Japan as a great power and nearly brought down the Russian government. 2. Midway, 1942 In addition to changing the entire balance of the Pacific War, Midway made Roosevelt's Germany-First strategy possible, since the United States did not need to devote as many resources to the Pacific. 1. Trafalgar, 1805 After Trafalgar, Britain might not win the war against Napoleon, but it could not lose. The battle set the stage for a century of British supremacy. |
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| Basil Fawlty | Nov 18 2011, 01:34 PM Post #2 |
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Post Tenebras Lux
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A case could be made for Midway being #1. Even after Trafalgar, there was the chance that Napoleon could survive on land, but Midway guaranteed the Japanese would lose the Pacific War. The best they could hope for was getting more favorable terms by inflicting heavy casualties. Against that we have reversibility. If Britain lost badly at Trafalgar, it would mean Napoleonic mastery over Europe. But if the US lost at Midway, it still would probably win the war. Edited by Basil Fawlty, Nov 18 2011, 01:40 PM.
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| JBK | Nov 18 2011, 05:30 PM Post #3 |
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8. Battle of Jutland 7. Battle of Leyte Gulf 6. Lepanto 5. Midway 4. Battle of Tsuchima 3. Defeat of the Spanish Armada 2. Battle of the Chesapeake 1. Trafalgar Excluding the ancient battles. |
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| Simon Darkshade | Nov 19 2011, 12:41 AM Post #4 |
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
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I wouldn't put Jutland up there, as it didn't have any decisive result other than to continue the status quo. Being on who gives greater credence to battles with wide reaching geopolitical and cultural effects, the Armada, Lepanto, Salamis, Tsushima and Trafalgar rank extremely highly, with Trafalgar getting the #1 place, albeit narrowly. |
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| Basil Fawlty | Nov 19 2011, 03:48 AM Post #5 |
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Post Tenebras Lux
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The Chesapeake is one I had considered, but there are questions about whether the same result would have been achieved in its absence. If we are going for cumulative influence, Hampton Roads and Lissa might fall in the top ten, despite being of limited strategic importance. 10. Lissa 9. Hampton Roads 8. The Nile 7. Midway 6. Tsushima 5. Lepanto 4. Spanish Armada 3. Actium 2. Trafalgar 1. Salamis |
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| JBK | Nov 19 2011, 01:37 PM Post #6 |
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I would call for Jutland because its direct impact was quite significant, the German High seas Fleet never set sail again, enabeling Great Britain to keep up the blockadde of Germany. |
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| Simon Darkshade | Nov 19 2011, 02:16 PM Post #7 |
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Nefarious Swashbuckler
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I agree with your reasoning, but that to me is a continuation of the pre-battle status quo, whereby the conventional blockade was unable to be challenged by the Germans. Any result other than a German Trafalgar and Jutland is relatively immaterial. |
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| Matthew | Nov 19 2011, 07:04 PM Post #8 |
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Wouldn't Trafalgar be similar then, itself, to Jutland? I suppose the German's Jutland losses were not so great, but then France could (and did) replace the ships in a much easier fashion. That being said, I would generally agree that Jutland was not decisive in either way, which means it probably wouldn't be on there. Would the effects of Copenhagen warrant consideration? Perhaps what would be interesting would be to consider the next ten as well. |
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| Basil Fawlty | Nov 20 2011, 04:46 AM Post #9 |
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Post Tenebras Lux
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The loss of sailors still would be an issue. That is what got the French after the Nile. |
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2:40 PM Jul 11