Chapter 593: The Problem with Naval Personnel
The British "press gangs" would even venture to America to forcibly recruit sailors. Claiming that these men were British immigrants, they declared that they still owed service to the Royal Navy, dragging them onto British warships.
Historically, during the Napoleonic Wars, the British warship Leopard intercepted the American frigate Chesapeake in Boston Harbor, demanding to board and seize sailors.
The Americans responded by sounding battle stations. After an exchange of fire, the Chesapeake surrendered, and the British took some of its crew. This infamous Chesapeake Affair became one of the key triggers for the War of 1812.
Why France Didn't Adopt British Methods
France couldn't replicate Britain's conscription methods.
The Spirit of Protest:
French citizens, with their proclivity for rebellion, wouldn't tolerate such measures. Any attempt by the French Navy to press gang sailors would likely result in full-blown riots in port cities.Limited Resources:
France had far fewer sailors than Britain, whose population largely depended on the sea for their livelihood. French authorities couldn't afford to alienate the already scarce sailor pool.
Incentive System: The Sailor Registration Program
Instead of force, France employed an incentive system called the sailor registration program:
Any sailor who registered with the government would receive an annual stipend of 30 francs.In times of war, registered sailors were obligated to serve in the navy.Registered sailors were also reimbursed for travel to naval bases, earned double shares of spoils during wartime, and enjoyed other benefits.
However, even with these measures, French sailors were notoriously independent and unwilling to register.
For example:
The navy's registry currently held only 10,000 sailors, while wartime demand exceeded 50,000.This meant the French Navy often had to conscript inexperienced men, or even borrow soldiers from the army—many of whom had never set foot on a ship.
With poorly trained crews, French ships were consistently outclassed by their British counterparts. Even when the two fleets were evenly matched in terms of ships and firepower, as in the Battle of Trafalgar, Britain's superior seamanship proved decisive.
A Naval Academy
After hearing the Navy Minister's explanation, Joseph proposed a solution:
"Perhaps we should establish a naval academy to train qualified sailors for the fleet."
The Marquis de Castries hesitated before replying politely:
"Your Highness, that might help somewhat, but it won't solve the core problem."
"Oh? Why not?"
"We need vast numbers of sailors. During the Seven Years' War, for instance, we conscripted 40,000–50,000 sailors."
Joseph frowned. "Fifty thousand? That's a lot. But if necessary, we can train all 50,000."
Determined to build a strong navy, Joseph was willing to allocate significant funding.
The Marquis quickly clarified:
"Your Highness, we don't actually need that many sailors regularly."
Joseph looked confused. "So do you need 50,000 sailors or not?"
The Marquis explained:
"Your Highness, the navy only requires 6,000 sailors during peacetime. It's only during wartime that we need tens of thousands. Maintaining such numbers in peacetime would be both unnecessary and financially ruinous."
Joseph finally understood:
70% of the fleet remained docked during peacetime because deploying warships was prohibitively expensive.During wartime, crew sizes had to increase dramatically.
For example:
A third-rate ship of the line might only require 40 marines in peacetime, but during war, it needed a full complement of 150 marines.Sailors were similarly bolstered in wartime to ensure enough hands for tasks like manning cannons and replacing casualties.
In this system, navies like Britain's could expand their manpower tenfold during wartime, while France struggled to scale up effectively.
Why France Lacked Sailors
The Marquis continued:
"Even beyond the navy, our merchant fleet is chronically short of sailors. Many merchants have to detour to Italy to hire crews before departing on long voyages."
Joseph asked, "Why aren't more people becoming sailors?"
The Marquis hesitated before responding:
"Well... when we still had North American and Far Eastern colonies, this issue wasn't so severe."
Joseph sighed heavily. Losing these colonies during the Seven Years' War had been catastrophic for France's maritime economy. Without extensive overseas trade, the prospect of becoming a sailor simply wasn't appealing.
Meanwhile, Britain's East India trade routes alone supported tens of thousands of sailors.
The Path Forward
Joseph remained resolute:
"A naval academy is still necessary. We need a professional corps of sailors to serve as the backbone of the fleet. This will also allow us to standardize naval training and combat protocols."
At this time, naval roles like helmsmen, navigators, gunners, and surgeons were all highly specialized and difficult to train efficiently. A dedicated academy could speed up training and improve the quality of personnel.
Historically, France wouldn't establish its first naval academy until nearly half a century later. Joseph wanted to correct this oversight now.
He added:
"We must also expand our maritime trade as much as possible."
Merchant shipping not only supported the economy but also provided vital training for future naval recruits. With more ships and routes, France could gradually rebuild its maritime infrastructure.
Joseph's dual approach—establishing a naval academy and boosting trade—was designed to address France's systemic deficiencies.
He hoped to create a professional, well-trained navy that could rival Britain's and secure France's place as a dominant maritime power.
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