The Royal Navy in European waters during the American Revolutionary War
By: David Syrett.
Series: Studies in maritime history
Publisher: University of South Carolina Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Columbia, S.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 213
Subjects: Great Britain. Royal Navy -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783.; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Naval operations, British.; Europe -- History, Naval.
Description: During the American Revolutionary War, Great Britain's Royal Navy faced foes that included, in addition to American forces, the navies of France, Spain, and the Netherlands. In this operational history of a period that proved to be a turning point for one of the world's great naval powers, David Syrett presents a saga of battles, blockades, great fleet cruises, and, above all, failures and lost opportunities.

He explains that the British government severely underestimated the Americans' maritime strength and how that error led to devastating consequences. The seemingly invincible navy failed to muster even one decisive victory during the extensive naval conflict.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-205) and index.
Table of contents: title: The failure to mobilize for war, 1775-77; title: Keppel and the Channel Fleet, 1778; title: The attempted Franco-Spanish invasion and the first relief of Gibraltar, 1779-80; title: Neutrals, naval stores, and the Royal Navy, 1778-82; title: The Channel Fleet holds the line, 1780-82.