Famous Sea Fights

I propose to tell in non-technical and popular language the story of some of the most remarkable episodes in the history of sea power. I shall begin with the first sea-fight of which we have a detailed history—the Battle of Salamis (B.C. 480), the victory by which Themistocles the Athenian proved the soundness of his maxim that "he who commands the sea commands all." I shall end with the last and greatest of naval engagements, the Battle of Tsu-shima, an event that reversed the long experience of victory won by West over East, which began with Salamis more than two thousand years ago.

I shall have to tell of British triumphs on the sea from Sluys to Trafalgar; but I shall take instances from the history of other countries also, for it is well that we should remember that the skill, enterprise, and courage of admirals and seamen is no exclusive possession of our own people.

I shall incidentally describe the gradual evolution of the warship from the wooden, oar-driven galleys that fought in the Straits of Salamis to the steel-built, steam-propelled giants that met in battle in the Straits of Tsu-shima. I shall have something to say of old seafaring ways, and much to tell of the brave deeds done by men of many nations. These true stories of the sea will, I trust, have not only the interest that belongs to all records of courage, danger, and adventure, but also some practical lessons of their own. (From the Introduction of the Book) (11 hr 54 min)

Chapters

Introduction	3:36	Read by Barry Eads
Ch.I. Salamis, Part 1 & 2	48:07	Read by RobbieRogers
Ch. II. Actium	28:42	Read by ontheroad
Ch. III. Svold Island	30:11	Read by woggy298
Ch. IV. Sluys	23:37	Read by Anna Simon
Ch. V. Lepanto Part 1	26:30	Read by David Leeson
Ch. V. Lepanto Part 2	23:18	Read by David Leeson
Ch. V. Lepanto Part 3	28:46	Read by David Leeson
Ch. VI. The Armada Part 1	26:08	Read by ink tree
Ch. VI. The Armada Part 2	21:27	Read by ink tree
Ch. VI. The Armada Part 3	29:15	Read by Tom Crawford
Ch. VII. Off the Gunfleet	33:14	Read by Esther
Ch. VIII. The Saints' Passage	30:43	Read by breathe
Ch. IX. Trafalgar Part 1	19:31	Read by Jim Mowatt
Ch. IX. Trafalgar Part 2	27:08	Read by Barry Eads
Ch. IX. Trafalgar Part 3	23:54	Read by Marian Martin
Ch. X. Hampton Roads Part 1	33:57	Read by Brian von Dedenroth
Ch. X. Hampton Roads Part 2	28:08	Read by Tom Crawford
Ch. XI. Lissa	41:14	Read by MorganScorpion
Ch. XII. The Yalu Part 1	25:09	Read by NickNumber
Ch. XII. The Yalu Part 2	23:01	Read by NickNumber
Ch. XIII. Santiago	44:40	Read by Alan Winterrowd
Ch. XIV. Tsu-shima Part 1	28:42	Read by Barry Eads
Ch. XIV. Tsu-shima Part 2	30:47	Read by Barry Eads
Ch. XIV. Tsu-shima Part 3	34:26	Read by Mark F. Smith

Reviews

Excellent for people interested in naval warfare

(4 stars)

Timothy Ferguson

This work, from the early 20th Century, discusses a series of naval battles which are pivotal in that at each battle a new technology changed the way war was waged. It ends in the first modern battle where a non-European fleet destroys a European one, which was a prescient endpoint for the author to select.

(4 stars)

cristobalite

Good book interesting and informative. Well worth the time of people interested in the history of naval warfare.

(1 stars)

Paul Vinar

tom crawford needs to have a drink of water and not get so tongue tied

love it.

(5 stars)

bc

it's great. I listen to 1 chapter a day.