Re: Fir-Built Frigates

At 01:52  31/05/02 +1000, Alan wrote:
>But the technology was only part of it. The point was that the USN of
1812 was
>the only navy in the world whose personnel was even remotely as
proficient as
>that of the RN.

Never said they weren't :)

>The RN, being perfectly used to taking on larger, better ships
>and winning hands-down due to sheer superior ability got wiped on
several 
>occasions.
>Any RN Captain of a 32 or 36 frigate or even a 28 sloop when confronted
with
>an enemy "frigate" was expected to take it on and win, as they always
had done
>in the past. Hence the losing streak. It was only when the captain of
HMS 
>Shannon
>(with an above-average crew) took on a US below-average crew that odds
were
>in his favour.

That's what happens when you give up all your advantages, close to point

blank range against a opponent who is the best in his squadron at close 
range combat. The commander of the US ship Chesapeake ignored his orders
in 
doing so lost his ship and his life. But he did give the US Navy the 
immortal line "don't give up the ship".

Cheers

Derek

Derek Fulton
12 Balaka st.
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Australia

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