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Quiz about Ruling the Waves
Quiz about Ruling the Waves

Ruling the Waves Trivia Quiz


For centuries the British navy shaped the world, from the fledgling Navy Royal of Henry VIII to the Royal Navy of the 20th century - an epic story worthy of a blockbuster.

A multiple-choice quiz by Mortifer. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
Mortifer
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
220,228
Updated
Feb 17 22
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
9 / 20
Plays
619
Last 3 plays: Guest 220 (8/20), Guest 96 (15/20), Guest 120 (7/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. In which year did John Hawkins first visit the Caribbean? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. Which vessel did Queen Elizabeth I contribute to Hawkins' second Caribbean voyage? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. In which harbour was Hawkins betrayed by the Spaniards? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. Known to history as the Golden Hind, what name was her original name? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. Which motto was stitched on the Spanish banner captured by Drake at Santo Domingo? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. Which name was given to the first new English 'race-built' galleon completed in 1573? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. In which year did the Royal Navy adopt James I's Union Jack? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. Who commanded the British fleet at the Texel 1653? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. Whose betrayal led the Royal Navy to fight alone against the Dutch at the Battle of Sole Bay 1672? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. Who won the battle of Barfleur 1692? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. Which famous location was captured by the Royal Navy in 1704? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. Who designed the Royal Navy's uniform for commissioned officers in 1748? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. Name the first class of Royal Navy '74s'. Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. Who charted the St. Lawrence River in 1759? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. What was odd about the Battle of Quiberon Bay 1759? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. Name Cook's ship in his 1768 voyage. Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. Who ordered the coppering of the British fleet? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. What name was given to Rodney's victory on January 16th 1780? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. Which ship led the British line at the Battle of the Saintes? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. What relation was George Bligh to the commander of HMS Bounty? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 11 2024 : Guest 220: 8/20
Oct 01 2024 : Guest 96: 15/20
Sep 24 2024 : Guest 120: 7/20
Sep 03 2024 : Guest 137: 9/20

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In which year did John Hawkins first visit the Caribbean?

Answer: 1562

Hawkins' father William had been the first English merchant to trade with the colonies in the New World. He 'gatecrashed' what were until then the preserve of Portugal and Spain.
2. Which vessel did Queen Elizabeth I contribute to Hawkins' second Caribbean voyage?

Answer: Jesus of Luebeck

The Jesus had been bought by Henry VIII from German merchants. She weighed 700 tonnes and carried 64 guns, of varying calibres. She looked impressive but was a clumsy sailor.
3. In which harbour was Hawkins betrayed by the Spaniards?

Answer: San Juan de Ulloa

The Spanish and Hawkins had pledged before God not to cause a fight while they shared the harbour. But the Spanish broke their word. In the following battle Hawkins lost four of his six ships and a third of his men. The Spanish force suffered the loss of two flagships and an unknown number of men.
4. Known to history as the Golden Hind, what name was her original name?

Answer: Pelican

Built to Francis Drake's specifications in 1574 she weighed 150 tonnes. Queen Elizabeth I named her the Pelican. It is said Drake changed her name in honour of his patron Sir Christopher Hatton whose arms contained the Hind (red female deer).
5. Which motto was stitched on the Spanish banner captured by Drake at Santo Domingo?

Answer: Non Suffiicit Orbis (The World is Not Enough)

Philip II adopted this motto after annexing Portugal in 1580. At a stroke he had control of the World's two largest empires. Portugal did not regain independence until 1664.
6. Which name was given to the first new English 'race-built' galleon completed in 1573?

Answer: Dreadnought

These galleons were termed 'race-built' because of the razed (raced) fore and aft castles. They were fast, maneouvarable and made up for lack of size with firepower. John Hawkins ensured that Her Majesty's yards concentrated on building these type of ships.
7. In which year did the Royal Navy adopt James I's Union Jack?

Answer: 1606

The Royal Navy adopted this first Union Jack in 1606, just over a century before it became the national flag of Great Britain following the union of England and Scotland in 1707. It comprised the cross of St.George (England) superimposed on the cross of St.Andrew (Scotland). King James I was also King James VI of Scotland.
8. Who commanded the British fleet at the Texel 1653?

Answer: General George Monck

With the curious, even somewhat amusing rank of 'general-at-sea', Monck proved more than capable of dealing with Holland's greatest Admiral Martin Tromp. This first Anglo-Dutch War had broken out in May 1652, and would be the first war ever completely fought at sea.

It was concluded by a treaty signed at Westminster in April 1654. The once invincible Dutch had been humbled by the English.
9. Whose betrayal led the Royal Navy to fight alone against the Dutch at the Battle of Sole Bay 1672?

Answer: Admiral Comte d'Estrees

Many believe d'Estrees' sailing away from the battle was due to a misread signal. Yet the same occurred on other occasions. It is more likely that it was part of Louis XIV's plan to see Britain weakened and the Dutch navy destroyed, which would have allowed him a free hand in Europe.
10. Who won the battle of Barfleur 1692?

Answer: England and the Netherlands

The victory at Barfleur saw the French fleet retreat to La Hogue, where it was assaulted on May 21st and 22nd by the Royal Navy. Watching the French fleet burn the exiled James II (himself once Lord High Admiral) said, 'Ah, none but my brave English could do so brave an action!' He was witnessing his last hope of regaining the English and Scottish thrones burn.
11. Which famous location was captured by the Royal Navy in 1704?

Answer: Gibraltar

After capturing Gibraltar the fleet sailed to join the French in battle off Malaga. The battle ended in stalemate but coupled with the crushing land victory of Blenheim fought on the same day sealed Louis XIV's fate. The war continued for another nine years but the tide had turned against Louis and he would be forced to accept a peace settlement.

The Royal Marines captured Gibraltar, albeit as an arm of the Royal Navy. Today 's Royal Marines carry "Gibraltar" as their only visible battle honour both in their Corps crest and Regimental Colours.
12. Who designed the Royal Navy's uniform for commissioned officers in 1748?

Answer: Lieutenant Philip Saumarez

At the end of Admiral Anson's famous voyage, he dressed one hundred sailors in the uniforms of his dead marines, to impress a Chinese Mandarin. It worked so well the idea of a uniform appearance stuch, especially for officers. A dark blue coat with buff waistcoat and gold trim was designed in 1748 and formally adopted in 1749.
13. Name the first class of Royal Navy '74s'.

Answer: Dublin

The design for the 74 was taken from French ships captured in 1748. Fourteen 74s were in active service by 1759. The type would form the fleet's backbone until after Trafalgar.
14. Who charted the St. Lawrence River in 1759?

Answer: James Cook

Cook carefully charted the many unpredictable shallows of the St.Lawrence. This enabled Admiral Sir Charles Saunders to get General Wolfe's army past the guns of Quebec. On a September morning in 1759 Wolfe was landed and stormed the Heights of Abraham, although he fell while taking Quebec.
15. What was odd about the Battle of Quiberon Bay 1759?

Answer: Fought during a storm

As the two fleets met, a gale was blowing, making entering the bay dangerous. The French Admiral had little confidence in his crews while his British counterpart had confidence in his men and their skills. The defeat once again ended French attempts at an invasion of Britain.
16. Name Cook's ship in his 1768 voyage.

Answer: HMS Endeavour

The Royal Society had wanted their project to track Venus to be led by Alexander Dalrymple. First Lord of the Admiralty Sir Edward Hawke declared only a King's officer would command one of His Majesty's vessels. So Cook was promoted from Ship's Master to First Lieutenant.
17. Who ordered the coppering of the British fleet?

Answer: John Montagu, Fourth Earl of Sandwich

Wooden ships had always had their Achilles heel, the sea. Constant soaking left them caked with seaweed and barnacles, while in the tropics shipworm struck. Copper bottoming allowed a ship to be free from these problems for years.
18. What name was given to Rodney's victory on January 16th 1780?

Answer: The Moonlight Battle

During the battle Rodney engaged from the lee side. Catching the Spanish offguard, and allowing the Royal Navy to capture 6 out of 11 enemy ships, it also relieved the siege of Gibraltar.
19. Which ship led the British line at the Battle of the Saintes?

Answer: HMS Marlborough

The Battle of the Saintes helped limit French and Spanish claims at the peace talks to end the American War of Independence in 1783. Although the 13 colonies gained their independence and several islands were given to France, Spain and Holland, the rest of the British Empire remained intact.
20. What relation was George Bligh to the commander of HMS Bounty?

Answer: Nephew

George Bligh's uncle William has gone down in history as the commander of the HMS Bounty. Yet George was Lieutenant on the most famous flagship in history.
Source: Author Mortifer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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