"Memorable Quotes about Sea Power " Topic

"Ever since the Athenian victory over the Persians at Salamis in 480 BC the possession of sea power has been of supreme strategic importance.

Here are a few memorable quotes and examples that summarise this fact so well:

"Without a decisive Naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it everything honourable and glorious." – General George Washington, December 1780.

Events proved Washington correct. The French strategic victory at the Virginia Capes in 1781 made surrender of British forces at Yorktown an inevitability, thereby securing American Independence. Interestingly, this was the only significant victory in French naval history, but its consequences were momentous…"
Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

this was the only significant victory in French naval history

Rather reductive. Beachy Head was a fairly decisive victory for France against two of Europe's great naval powers. They also absolutely rinsed the Dutch at Dogger Bank a few years later, and did a good number on another Anglo-Dutch fleet at Lagos.

Fuzhou was as one-sided a victory as anyone could hope for, albeit in an era when European powers had pretty much the run of the world's oceans. And then there's Navarino, of course, which was in conjunction with Britain and Russia but nevertheless a resounding victory for the French side.

Whilst his successes were moderate in comparison with those of his opponents (eg Rodney at The Saintes), Suffren was one of the more successful French commanders, and certainly the only one who fought the British several times without ever being defeated (despite the incompetence of his own captains). Ironically, his legacy was to confirm the Royal Navy's policy of destroying enemy fleets, rather than simply out-sailing them.

"Sea power is world power."

Can't remember the source and google isn't helping. Mahan?

My Favorite "There is something wrong with our Bloody Ships Today"

"No sailor but a fool fights a fortress."

"No captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy."

So said Sir Horatio Nelson.

I have not let begon to fight – John paul Jones

I still find it peculiar how so many "intelligent" people think France never won any significant battle, let alone a war..?

If that were so, why does France still exist?

Because when the Germans came calling the UK and US were able to help kick them out.