The Evolution of Naval Armament

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

56777

Title

The Evolution of Naval Armament

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Engineer Commander Frederick Leslie Robertson presents a definitive technical history of naval armament evolution. This work bridges the gap between classic military histories and modern textbooks by tracing the materialistic development of ships, guns, and engines from the seventeenth century to the late nineteenth. Written with clarity and engineering precision, it offers an essential overview of how scientific principles transformed naval warfare.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'The Evolution of Naval Armament,' Engineer Commander Frederick Leslie Robertson presents a comprehensive technical history of naval warfare, focusing on the material evolution of ships, guns, and engines from the seventeenth to the late nineteenth century. Robertson argues that traditional historians have overlooked the scientific and mechanical foundations of naval power, preferring instead to treat gunnery as a mysterious art rather than a discipline grounded in mathematics and experiment. The narrative begins by exposing pre-1707 misconceptions where artillery was governed by superstition and flawed theories regarding projectile motion. Robertson highlights Benjamin Robins, an eighteenth-century Quaker mathematician, who revolutionized the field by applying pure reason and rigorous experimentation to correct these errors. Robins introduced the ballistic pendulum and established the true laws of ballistics, laying the groundwork for modern scientific gunnery. Regarding propulsion, the text details the slow and often stalled adoption of steam power in Britain and France due to public fear and a lack of commercial interest, despite early successes like Symington's *Charlotte Dundas*. Progress only accelerated with Watt's improvements to the steam engine and Pickard's invention of the crank, which enabled continuous rotary motion. In contrast, American inventors like John Fitch and Robert Fulton pursued persistent development, eventually proving that large vessels could be effectively propelled by steam. Robertson traces the dramatic transformation of ordnance from smooth-bore cannons to rifled guns capable of firing explosive shells. He documents the parallel evolution of ship design, moving from wooden sailing vessels to ironclads, central-battery ships, and finally turret ships like the *Royal Sovereign*. The text also addresses the emergence of the self-propelled torpedo, detailing how Whitehead's successful experiments led to its adoption by the Admiralty. Throughout the work, Robertson emphasizes that accurate data and mathematical reasoning supersede tradition. He acknowledges his debts to various Admiralty officials and museum directors for their assistance in verifying facts and reproducing illustrations. The book concludes by looking toward the future fleet of iron construction and centralized armament, setting the stage for the revolutionary changes that would define modern naval strategy.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Naval Warfare