Steam warships could not sustain a close blockade of the whole U.S. coast without a large coaling network. Napoleon III’s support for Britain, based on outrage over the seizure and recent Crimean War cooperation, made French facilities and coordination plausible. Britain could use sailing squadrons for a distant blockade and reserve steam ships for local tasks. Warrior and other warships could escort merchant convoys into and out of Confederate ports. The Royal Navy already had steam vessels around the world, including on the Pacific coast. This combination would attack the Union blockade without keeping British ships continuously exposed off every harbour.
Notable Point · 20:57-22:59
How Britain could break the Union blockade
British sea power could undermine the Union blockade through distant patrols and escorted Confederate trade without sealing every American port.