Ruling the Waves Trivia Quiz

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.