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British naval dominance during the age of sail

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97 points surprisetalk | 3 comments | 16 May 25 13:14 UTC | HN request time: 0.829s | source
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roter ◴[16 May 25 14:29 UTC] No.44005946[source]▶
There is also the theory that the British just had more practice at gunnery and sailhandling while blockading the French/Spanish in the various ports.
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wagwangbosy ◴[16 May 25 16:16 UTC] No.44007197[source]▶
The french navy had been super formidable throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. I don't really get how they folded so quickly to the UK.
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1. bell-cot ◴[16 May 25 20:37 UTC] No.44009603[source]▶
France ditched most of its senior naval officers late in the 18th century, for the "crime" of being loyal to the prior regime: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution
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2. zardo ◴[16 May 25 21:27 UTC] No.44009941[source]▶
The French army purged old loyalists and replaced them with young officers, but wound up more capable, not less.
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3. mncharity ◴[16 May 25 22:35 UTC] No.44010376[source]▶
Copilot contrasts the army's extensive battlefield promotions, broad and rapid, versus the navy's leadership funnel narrowed and slowed by specialized skills and more limited opportunities to develop and demonstrate them.