Empire of the Seas - Fri night BBC2

[Babylon]

I'm posting this to remind myself to watch 'Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World' Friday 15 January 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC2

Heart of Oak

In the first of a four-part series, historian Dan Snow charts the defining role the Royal Navy played in Britain's struggle for modernity - a grand tale of the twists and turns which thrust the people of the British Isles into an indelible relationship with the sea and ships. The episode opens with a dramatic retelling of 16th and 17th century history, revealing how victory over the Armada transformed impoverished England into a seafaring nation.

 

[Major Catastrophe]

The last episode, "I iPod generation" is going to be a bit of a downer.

 

[reginaldon]

I'm posting this to remind myself to watch 'Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World' Friday 15 January 9:00pm - 10:00pm BBC2

Heart of Oak

In the first of a four-part series, historian Dan Snow charts the defining role the Royal Navy played in Britain's struggle for modernity - a grand tale of the twists and turns which thrust the people of the British Isles into an indelible relationship with the sea and ships. The episode opens with a dramatic retelling of 16th and 17th century history, revealing how victory over the Armada transformed impoverished England into a seafaring nation.

Secular, chicken-hearted Britain, needs to realise how far it has fallen with its C21st Navy, which is almost a laughing stock and even a Merchant Service, which is little more than a flag of convenience. In 1939 we had the largest Navy and Merchant Service the World had ever known.

 

[Babylon]

Too little pink.

Secular, chicken-hearted Britain, needs to realise how far it has fallen with its C21st Navy, which is almost a laughing stock and even a Merchant Service, which is little more than a flag of convenience. In 1939 we had the largest Navy and Merchant Service the World had ever known.

I agree with your sentiments, but then its worth noting that in 1939 vast swathes of the world atlas were coloured pink.

 

[dulcibella]

If we tried to maintain a navy at 1930s levels it would swallow most of our national budget. Patriotism is splendid but we need to be realistic about what we can afford. Now if you are suggesting that giving up rather than renewing our Trident commitment would allow us to develop a useful fleet of modern warships, I am all for that.

 

[mcframe]

Booklist

_The Rules of the Game: Jutland and British Naval Command_ by Andrew Gordon
_British Maritime Doctrine: BR1806_ (Ministry of Defence)
_A History of the English-Speaking Peoples since 1900_ by Andrew Roberts

Churchill's _A History of the English-Speaking Peoples_ (pre 1900) is next on my list
(Already read _The Second World War_)

At least I'll be able to harrumph about the two-power rule with authority!