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Introduction | Diver's log | History | More
Nelson's navy
For 22 years the Napoleonic Wars raged in Europe. The French Revolution in 1789 allowed Napoleon Bonaparte to take power and start his ambitious campaign for French dominance in Europe. Once he invaded the Netherlands in 1793, Britain could no longer ignore the threat and declared war.
In the late 1700s Britain had the best navy in the world. Their dominance over the seas was highly prized, but also essential for the security of the Isles. Nelson's navy was the envy of Europe. His crushing defeat of the French at Trafalgar in 1805 was a huge victory, despite losing his own life in the battle. The French navy never regained sufficient strength to challenge the British at sea, or invade the island.
Within Nelson's navy, the main fighting power came from the great British warships. Britain had long been developing the finest and strongest Ships of the Line and by 1793 it had more warships than any other country. In addition, Nelson had a large number of frigates, the glamorous ships of the Navy. The ambition of all captains was to command a frigate, conjuring the image of the swashbuckling hero. It was not unlike the glamour of the fighter pilots in today's air forces.
The frigates' main role was to scout out the seas ahead and spot any enemy ships. They were the eyes and ears of the Navy, working in long lines, covering a huge search area. Their streamline design meant they could quickly race back to England or the fleet with news of enemy movements. Nelson prized his frigates highly, but there were never enough of them. He once commented that if he died, 'want of frigates' would be found stamped on his heart.
The speed of the frigate meant they also formed a large part of the war intelligence system. Frigates were frequently sent to spy on enemy ports, question locals and merchants and carry important dispatches between command bases.
However, their more favoured role was in the capture of enemy vessels, of huge benefit to Britain's navy which was spared the cost of building new boats. A frigate that brought one in was heavily rewarded, and the often dramatic sea battles would win the frigate great fame as well as fortune. The Pomone saw its fair share of action. It once captured Napoleon's brother and his wife for a brief period!
After their defeat at Trafalgar, the French moved the focus of the war to land. Fighting on the Iberian peninsula of Spain and Portugal dominated the second period of the Napoleonic Wars. The frigates were stationed in the Mediterranean, running messages back to England, attacking enemy ships and picking up intelligence. The Pomone spent five years there before its fateful journey home.