In 1862 Britannia indeed ruled the waves.
The Royal Navy numbered over 300 ships.
In North American the navy had three important stations, an Halifax, Bermuda and Barbados. As war fears mounted, by 1862 54 ships were on the North American Station under the command of Admiral Alexander Milne. Halifax was well defended and had coal stores well provision by Canadian mines. Milne had carefully built up Bermuda stores.
In case of war Milne intended to keep 25 ships or so in the West Indies. Milne intended to break the Union blockade and then sweep down the east coast attacking ports. He had a detached squadron of Iron Clads for this purpose. If possible he would attack Washington, though this was unrealistic in 1862. From there Milne wanted to blockade the east coast at Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, Sandy hook and Long Island Sound.
Aside from attacking Washington, there is no reason to think Milne and the North American Squadron could not have accomplished all he set out to do.
By 1863 I don't think the British could of broken the blockade so they would have to do it fast before the Yankees build a ton of ironclads
ReplyDeleteAlso research the Armstrong guns the royal navy was using I remember them don't working lime they were supposed to do
ReplyDeleteIn 1862 the US Navy was a bluff. It was almost all hired merchant men. The limeys were already outfitting their ships with the Armstrong gun. This conflict would have begun early 1862.
ReplyDeleteYes but salt water interfer with the breech and the standard 40 ib gun could not breech 4 inches of armour
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