Page 241 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol V

2018 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

civilizations. As those civilizations aged and their popu- “show the flag” and serve as constant reminders of the
lations began to press on the natural boundaries imposed potential power of their nation.
by geography, colonists set forth over the waters eager to Navies have three major components. Most promi-
establish new homes, to seek new opportunities. Navies nent, and constantly changing as technology and tactics
accompanied those colonists, sometimes to wrest the dictate, are the ships themselves (including warships,
new lands from those who already possessed them, often designed to engage an enemy, and auxiliary vessels, built
to protect the lines of communication and supply to support the warships). Many types of warships have
between new settlements and old nations, and always to been built throughout history, but all have been con-
insure that the colonists did not forget their obligations strained by the attempt to balance firepower, protection,
to their homelands. When colonists forgot the mother- and speed. Invariably, warships have been the most com-
land and sought freedom, when existing civilizations col- plex machines of any age, and therefore the most costly
lided, or when waterborne freebooters sought quick of machines to design, build, and maintain.Thus cost is
profit, naval warfare erupted. an additional constraint on national navies, if not on indi-
vidual warships.
Sea Power The second component of navies is the crews that
At the heart of naval warfare is the concept of sea power must operate their vessels within an environment always
—the ability to project national policies into the interna- inimical to human life. Sailors must cope with the possi-
tional arena via the sea. Sea power has four distinct pur- bility of drowning in adverse weather far more frequently
poses. First and foremost, in time of war a nation’snavy than they face the threat of naval engagement. Sheer bore-
must defend its homeland and merchant marine (ships dom and conflicts within the crowded confines of a naval
transporting nonmilitary cargoes). Though containment vessel hold their own danger—that of mutiny. Finally,
of an enemy navy by a blockade may be part of this strat- somewhere between the crowded shipboard community
egy, coastal defense by small squadrons and fixed shore and the highly specialized skills required of a mariner, a
emplacements as well as convoying merchant ships maritime subculture inevitably develops in all seafaring
always feature prominently. Second, offensive action societies. It has traditionally included those who make
tends to win wars, thus navies attempt to go on the attack their living from the sea (fisherman, merchant sailors,
at some point during a conflict. Enemy fleets are con- naval officers and ratings, shipbuilders, etc.) as well as the
tained via blockade or, preferably, destroyed by direct members of the local infrastructure supported by and
engagement. Enterprising officers direct raids against the supporting those people.Also included could be families
enemy merchant marine and shore structures. Frequently, with a legacy of service in naval officer corps.The extent
amphibious operations (the landing of troops from naval of this subculture plays a large part in the potential size
vessels) mark the beginning of an attempt to invade and and capabilities of any nation’s navy. The third critical
occupy the enemy heartland.At that point navies provide component of navies is infrastructure. This ranges from
logistical support for land armies, guaranteeing the sup- the availability of raw materials and the number of ship-
plies necessary to win a final victory ashore. wrights, artificers, and slips used in ship construction/
Third, even during times of relative peace, sea power maintenance to the bureaucracy that manages the navy in
plays an important role in maintaining civil control. its entirety.The creation of such a complex infrastructure
Coast guards discourage smuggling and piracy, while is a slow process, maturing according to the needs of the
naval forces too often have suppressed—or sometimes nation and forced to develop by changing technologies.
supported—domestic insurrections. Finally, whether dur-
ing peace or war, naval forces often form the core of expe- Navies under Oars
ditions of exploration and scientific investigation.While The first record of a naval expedition is an Egyptian relief
engaged in such activities during peacetime, naval vessels dating to 2450 BCE. Though each ship featured a large