Jacqueline Reiter, Jimmy Chen and Josh Povan join me as we discuss four contenders for the title of 'most significant naval figure'. Some predictable and less predictable candidates are offered, including two Russians, one of whom is more famous for his exploits on land, despite his reformist naval agenda.
Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @latelordchatham | @JSC1812 | @LandOfHistory
Tip: https://ko-fi.com/napoleonicist
Support: https://www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicist
This is the most recent output of Zack's White epic podcast series and as usual fascinating to listen.
As a land lubber I would of course proffer Nelson as the most significant Naval Figure but listening to the remarkable carreer of Fyodor Ushakov I have second thoughts - as about Russia anyway, who could maintain such an immense strong land and sea force coping very well with what they were designed for.
Here a portrait of Ushakov and the Saint
I always love the array of orders and then the Saint
His fighting tactics thanks to Wikipedia
Distinguishing features of Ushakov's tactics were: use of unified marching and fighting orders; resolute closing to close quarters with the enemy forces without evolution of a fighting order; concentration of effort against enemy flagships; maintaining a reserve (Kaiser-flag squadrons); combination of aimed artillery fire and maneuvering; and chasing the enemy to its total destruction or capture. Giving great value to sea and fire training of his staff, Ushakov was a supporter of generalissimo Suvorov's principles of training for sailors and officers. Ushakov's innovations were among the first successful developments of naval tactics, from its "line" to maneuvering concepts.
It would be interesting to learn even more about the Russian Navy in the Napoleonic Wars.