In the Influence of Sea Power Upon History, Thomas Mahan laid out his decisive argument for the impact of navies on a nation’s global position. Though written in 1890, its evidence is no less compelling today. Take a look at my list of the eleven most influential sea battles (taken from historians, military experts and other bloggers) and their impact on the countries involved.
Actium — 31 BC
The decisive confrontation of the Final War of the Roman Republic. Mark Antony lost his fleet (200 ships sunk or captured) and his army deserted in large numbers. This ultimately led to the death of Ark Antony and the suicide of Cleopatra.
Battle of the Atlantic — 1939-1945
The longest continuous military campaign of World War II running from 1939 through to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945
Battle of Jutland
The largest Naval battle during WWI and the only full-scale clash of battleships in that war
Battle of Lepanto–1571
It broke the Turkish navy, and buried their dreams of conquering the Mediterranean effectively halting the Turkish invasion of Europe.
Battle of Midway — 1942
Fought over and near the tiny U.S. mid-Pacific base at Midway atoll and represents the strategic high water mark of Japan’s Pacific Ocean war. Prior to this action, Japan possessed general naval superiority over the United States. After Midway, the two opposing fleets were essentially equals and the United States soon took the offensive.
Battle of Trafalgar
France vs. Britain. The victory of the British ships commanded by Admiral Lord Nelson was so complete that it confirmed the preeminence of the British navy over all others
Bonhomme Richards vs. Serapis — 1779
The nascent United States vs. Britain in British waters, no less. The outcome of the battle convinced the French crown of the wisdom of backing the colonies in their fight to separate from British authority. Best remembered for John Paul Jones infamous quote, We have not yet begun to fight!
Monitor vs. the Merrimack
one of the most revolutionary naval battles in world history. Up until that point, all battles had been waged between wooden ships. This was the first battle in maritime history that two ironclad ships waged war.
Peloponesian War Naval Battles — 431-404 BC
When Athens, a Greek Naval power, lost to Sparta, it heralded the end of Athens maritime empire
Siege of Candia
The blockage of Candia, the then capital of the island of Crete, by the Ottoman Empire in the 1600’s, is widely regarded as the longest siege in history. The Ottoman’s began the siege in 1648, and finally took over the city after twenty one years of constant blockade.
Spanish Armada vs. the British Navy, the battle at Gravelines (off the Irish coast) — 1588
Spain lost the battle and suffered enormously from storms trying to return home (lost over 24 ships) which led to British control of the seas
“Bonhomme Richards vs. Serapis” but no Salamis?
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By: Vieux_Charles on 03/20/2010
at 15:00
Good one. Those ancient Greeks sure could fight.
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By: worddreams on 03/21/2010
at 15:08
The Spanish Armada was defeated by the England and the English Royal Navy, not ‘Britain’ or the British Royal Navy. Neither the Union of the Crowns or the Act of Union had taken place by this time.
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By: Richard on 04/29/2010
at 22:25
You are right, of course. Thanks.
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By: worddreams on 04/29/2010
at 22:28
The Peloponesian War Naval Battles were in fact a stunning defeat for Athens who prided themselves in maritime control. The only way the Spartans won the naval engagements was because they boarded the Athenian ships and fought in close combat at which thay were supreme. Check out http://greathistoricalmoments.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/hello-world/
for more naval battles.
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By: historyjunkie88 on 07/01/2010
at 19:56
Too early for the infamous Greek Fire. Thanks for visiting, historyjunkie88. Come back often.
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By: worddreams on 07/01/2010
at 22:53
[…] Eleven Top Naval Battles December 2009 6 comments and 1 Like on WordPress.com, 3 […]
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By: 2010 in review « USNA or Bust! on 01/03/2011
at 16:18
k it is like Eleven Top Western Naval Battles
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By: William PArk on 09/05/2011
at 00:44
Did I miss one you think should be there?
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By: USNAorBust (@USNAorBust) on 09/05/2011
at 15:37
Please, help me find the sheme of “Merrimack”. I saw it’s impressive above water part and am very interested to see how deep it’s merged unger water.
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By: Igor on 11/16/2011
at 10:02
I confess I have no idea. Let’s see if any other readers can help.
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By: USNAorBust (@USNAorBust) on 11/16/2011
at 15:16
Plans I have seen indicate that the depth is similar to the height above the waterline, if that helps.
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By: Phil on 10/20/2012
at 15:17
[…] Eleven Top Naval Battles–always at the top of the list […]
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By: What’s Trending on USNA Or Bust « USNA or Bust! on 12/12/2011
at 01:51
i think you missed the battle of leyte gulf wich is actually the greatest naval battle in world war 2
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By: raymond on 01/20/2012
at 14:57
Good one. After reading Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, I gained a real appreciation for that one. Thanks for mentioning it.
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By: Jacqui Murray on 01/20/2012
at 15:16
did you also know that the 2 largest battle ships in the world mushasi and yamato
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By: raymond on 01/21/2012
at 13:30
is included in the battle of leyte gulf
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By: raymond on 01/21/2012
at 13:31
It’s amazing that’s not more common knowledge. That, too, I learned in Last Stand. What an amazing testament to man’s bravery that battle was.
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By: Jacqui Murray on 01/21/2012
at 23:53
its amazing what the navy can you do with the uss enterprise too bad it dod not become a floating museum she was a great hero with a great crew by her side a solid combination
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By: raymond on 01/22/2012
at 07:18
You-all have a lot to be proud of in that battle. What a time that was.
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By: Jacqui Murray on 01/22/2012
at 17:50
thanks im a fillipino thats why i have something to be proud of as well as the americans
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By: raymond on 01/21/2012
at 13:21
its a shame not all filipinos know that
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By: raymond on 01/23/2012
at 03:12
[…] Eleven Top Naval Battles–throughout history. The Greeks, Spartans, Americans–that’s a lot of battles. […]
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By: 10 Hits and Misses for 2012 « USNA or Bust! on 01/10/2013
at 00:43
I think the most heroic one is the battle of hansan island where japanese’s 333 ships were crushed by the Joseon(Now korea)’s mere 13 ships.
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By: Kiweee on 04/04/2013
at 09:24
How’d I miss that one? I’m off to Google it…
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By: Jacqui Murray on 04/04/2013
at 14:13
by bad it is actually called Battle of Myeongnyang.
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By: kiweee on 04/05/2013
at 04:38
Um. You are talking about two different battles. Battle of Myeongnyang is the 13 ships versus 333 (some say 133, but whatever, Korea was highly outmatched), and Hansan Battle is 50 ships versus 133 ships. Hansan battle was more “decisive”, because Korea managed to destroy over 60 ships with 9000 casualties while losing ZERO ship and 19 dead 400 wounded.
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By: NDJo on 06/04/2013
at 20:01
[…] Eleven Top Naval Battles–always at the top of the list […]
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By: What’s Trending on USNA Or Bust | USNA or Bust! on 04/09/2013
at 00:44
Oh and obviously Oriental history is relatively harder to research in the West, but as mentioned before, But it’s obviously clear that the list is biased towards the West, when the Orient had comparable naval fleets prior to the Industrial Revolution, but yet there is not a single Oriental naval fight mentioned in the list. Battle of Hansan definitely needs to be in the list. It’s considered as one of the “top 4 greatest Naval Battles in History as chosen by the British Naval Academy”. The battle was led by Admiral Yi Sun-Sin with 50 ships against 133 ships of Japanese Daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who wanted to invade Korea and eventually China (Ming Dynasty) in the 16th century with invading forces of over 150,000 soldiers.The battle result: 59 Japanese ships sunk, 14 captured, with ~9000 people casualty. Korea: 19 people dead, No ship lost or captured. This made a turning point in the war (which is seen as the first Japanese attempt to become a global power) and has affected strong nationalism in Korea, Japan, and China, arguably the economic powers in the modern history.
“It is always difficult for Englishmen to admit that Nelson ever had an equal in his profession, but we cannot deny that General Yi Sun-Sin is the greatest naval commander of Asiatic race.” – Ballard, G.A. (Head of British Naval Academy
“You may compare me with Lord Nelson, but not with Yi Sun-Sin. Next to him, I am only a petty officer.” – Togo Heihachiro (Admiral of the Imperial Japanese Navy).
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By: NDJo on 06/04/2013
at 20:12
Good addition.
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By: Jacqui Murray on 06/05/2013
at 01:34
The Battle of Tsushima (Japan vs. Russia)
Led by Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō, the Japanese fleet destroyed two thirds of the Russian fleet…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tsushima
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By: Bob Holliman on 09/09/2013
at 21:06
[…] Eleven Top Naval Battles–always at the top of the list […]
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By: What’s Trending on USNA Or Bust | USNA or Bust! on 06/13/2014
at 00:50
You missed the battle of Cartagena de Indias, where 6 spanish ships led by Blas de Lezo defended the the port of Cartagena de Indias against an enormous British invading force of almost 200 ships during the 1740s.
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By: Chris on 11/22/2014
at 14:09
Great addition. This is an older post. Were I to write it now, it would look quite different. Thanks for adding this one.
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By: Jacqui Murray on 11/22/2014
at 15:06
Gravelinrs is off the Belgian / French coasts.
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By: Anonymous on 05/27/2021
at 10:55
Gravelines is on the French coast, near Dunkirk. When I was last there in 1964 much WW2 damage was still very evident to the harbour, but the town centre itself was interesting and quite picturesque.
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By: roger-roger on 08/23/2021
at 16:04
Interesting the damage remains. Thanks for sharing that.
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By: Jacqui Murray on 08/23/2021
at 19:32
The battle of Copenhagen 1801 was Nielson’s hardest fought fight, and the English fleet neary loose the battle.
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By: Tyrone Eckers on 12/31/2021
at 19:30
Thanks for the reminder! What a time that was.
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By: Jacqui Murray on 12/31/2021
at 20:20