Wed, Jul 21, 2021
Countries have been maintaining reserve fleets for hundreds of years. But they present some challenges. Ships need to be carefully prepared for deactivation and maintained while in storage. That takes planning, work and money. That hasn't always gone well. But it paid off of the United States Navy when the Korean War flared up as over a hundred ships were brought back into service for the Korean War.
Wed, Aug 25, 2021
On the eve of the Spanish American War the United States Navy was a fragmented organization geographically, organizationally, and deficient in skills such as gunnery. The war made the Navy realize it's poor state leading it to embark on a total overhaul over the decades leading up to World War Two.
Wed, Sep 1, 2021
The Barabary Pirates were privateers financed by Noth African states. Europe dealt with them by paying tribute. With the signing of the 1983 treaty of Paris The United States was no longer covered by the British treaty and became a lucrative target, awkward since Jeffereson had sold off the entire navy. The United States had trouble negotiating treaties and tentative naval actions failed. But after the War of 1812 more powerful US and European ships engaged the pirates and over several decades did so much damage to North African towns that they stopped engaging in piracy.
Sat, Jan 6, 2024
Though intended to torpedo major warships, notably destroyers, PT boats proved no match for them even using hit and run tactics. But the boats were effective against merchant ships and were valuable in special forces roles.