Recently, my brother graduated from the Navy's Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. During the ceremony, several of the speakers mentioned, "You are a Sailor in the most powerful navy in the history of the world." I started to think after hearing this claim. What would constitute the most powerful navy ever?
Without doubt, the United States' Navy is stronger now than any navy in the past, given the great leaps in technology. But for it to be powerful, it must be able to exert control or influence over outside entities. Given this definition, could England's navy from its heyday have been more powerful? The Strength of their navy exceeded everybody else' by such a margin that England maintained a position as the world's dominant power. Before the invention of the airplane, the importance of the navy was much greater. The Navy shipped the materials, carried the troops, laid siege, and fought naval battles. England's navy was more of a cornerstone to the country's political and military power than the United States' Navy is to the US' political and military power.
England directly controlled more land, intimidated more people, and directed more influence through the use of their navy, making them more powerful than any current naval force. America could beat them now, though.
No comments:
Post a Comment