Cromwell’s Wars at Sea by John Barratt, Pen & Swords, 2006
For many, the name of Oliver Cromwell is completely associated with the English Civil War, a war that mostly occurred on land, with only a minor part being played out at sea. Perhaps because of this, it has caused many to overlook a critically important period in the development of the English Navy, a time when it fought several wars, and began to develop the strategies, tactics, and momentum that would eventually allow England to command the seas. However, with his new book, John Barratt offers a concise introduction to this period, while dealing deftly with the major personalities, and capture the sense of drama associated with the major naval battles of the period.
Considering that the book contains just over 200 pages, it is amazing how much information is packed into so little space. Barratt begins with an examination of the English navy during and immediately following the English Civil Wars. It is a navy that fans of Napoleonic naval action will hardly recognize. Although the ships are still the massive floating fortresses, the relationships of the crew are completely different from later periods. Captains, who often possessed little experience at sea, were often one of only two officers on board. They were completely dependent on the knowledge of their senior crew members. Also absent is the harsh discipline, leaving Captains to lead their men through the idea of common cause. Barratt also covers such important topics as ship design, how ships were manned, and religion on board ships at sea.
After this, Barratt goes into the various conflicts that were fought by the navy in this short period. He begins with an examination of the fleets action against the Royalist holdouts in the Scilly islands, the Channel Islands, and the small colonies in the new world. Often over looked because of their remoteness, these are actually the last land battles of the English Civil War. They are also notably interesting for their strategic problem of forcing an amphibious landing into enemy held territory. Barratt also covers the fight between the navy and the Loyalist privateer squadrons under the command of Prince Rupert.
In truth, the last of the royalist presented little major threat to the Cromwellian Navy, but not so for what came next. In the next couple of chapters, John Barratt outlines the First Anglo-Dutch war, which saw huge fleets on both sides engage in a number of major sea battles. With ships exploding on both sides, this makes for stirring reading.
Finally, Barratt covers the somewhat abortive war with Spain and the confusing period between the death of Oliver Cromwell and the Restoration of Charles II. All through each of these chapters, Barratt deftly weaves the stories of the most important Admirals, or Generals at Sea, as they were often known in this period. Men such as William Blake who deserve to have their names enshrined with the great English Naval commanders are given their due, and even their enemies such as the famous Dutch Admiral Marteen van Tromp are given a good deal of time and consideration.
If you have any interest in the English navy, but haven’t read much about this period, Oliver Cromwell’s Wars at Sea is the perfect place to start.
