ROYAL NAVY
Admiral Edward Hawke is best known for his defeat of the French fleet in Quiberon Bay in November 1759
The Battle of Quiberon Bay,
November 20, 1759 was the most decisive naval encounter during the Seven Years War, 1756-63
before seen, turning the squadrons of
(1756-63), for example, ships of the Royal Navy, as it was by this time known, kept constantly on station throughout the sea- sons and in all weathers, off the island of Ushant in north-west Brittany, confining French ships of war to the port of Brest for months on end. It is known that the successes of the Royal
Navy at this time and later were largely due to the rigorous naval regulations laid down by the Admiral of the Fleet of that time, George Anson (1697-1762), who decreed that commissioned officers of the Royal Navy should wear uniforms and that sailors were to be trained to standards never
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service (RFA) is a civilian manned fleet, owned by the Ministry of Defence. Its main task is to supply warships of the Royal Navy at sea with fuel, food, stores and ammunition that they need to remain operational while away from base. It also provides aviation support for the Royal Navy, together with amphibious support and secure sea transport for army units and their equipment. The RFA employs over 2,000 civilian officers and ratings, and is one of the biggest employers in British Shipping. UK personnel serve under RFA conditions of service which contain clauses that take account of the ser- vice centred around replenishment at sea, and also provide that the crew stays with the ship in the event of its being directed to an area where warlike hazards may arise. Personnel follow the traditional training paths of their Merchant Navy counterparts to obtain professional qualifications, but with a substantial overlay of Navy training to develop the skills needed in an operational environment. Many RFA ships carry naval or military parties for tasks such as the opera- tion and maintenance of helicopters.
these oak-built square-rigged warships into a formidable fighting force.
Great victories As a result, the Royal Navy had many great victories over the following sixty years, too numerous to mention here, but particularly noteworthy for courage and daring is the Battle of Quiberon Bay (1759). In failing light and a rising sou’westerly December gale, Admiral Hawke’s ships gave chase to the key squadron of France’s naval ships down the west coast of Brittany and into Quiberon Bay. With this winter gale blowing straight into the Bay, in breaking waves and pitch darkness, the battle ensued, with the French suffering great losses in one of the most daring actions in British naval history, thus effectively destroying any prospect of a French invasion of Britain. Fifty years later, Admiral Lord Nelson’s
many victories at sea reached a pinnacle with the Battle of Trafalgar in which Nelson’s small but extremely experienced and disciplined fleet, outnumbered as they were by the enemy, routed the combined navies of the French and Spanish off the south-west coast of Spain.
Eras of change The eras of development that followed saw the wooden wall of oak become iron and the square sails become steam power.
24 SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
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But what has never changed through two World Wars, to this day, it the discipline and tenacious spirit of the officers and men, currently numbering some 35,000, who are today’s Royal Navy and Royal Marines. So what are the components of the
ethos of the Royal Navy? They are defined by the Royal Navy as follows: Leadership: work to inspire morale and cohesion in your team. High Professional Standards: always demand 100% of yourself and your team in all situations. Courage in Adversity: display physical courage and the moral courage to do what is right. Determination: have the will to succeed and the physical and moral stamina to never give up. Loyalty: display commitment to your service, your ship, your colleagues and your team. Mutual Respect: treat each other with fairness and dignity, acknowledging every contribution. Discipline: always ensure good discipline and lead the way with your own self- discipline. A Sense of Humour: look on the bright side of all situations in the face of adversity. Teamwork: focus the effort of individuals in your team to create success. ’Can Do’ Attitude: don’t make excuses
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