The Gunboat War began in 1807 and continued to absorb ships and officers in the Baltic. Those commitments reduced the 64-gun ships and officers available on the North America and West Indies Station when the War of 1812 began. The Royal Navy's global totals can therefore give a misleading picture of strength in one theater. This allocation helps explain how simultaneous wars stretched even a very large fleet.
Notable Point · 46:17-47:07
The Gunboat War thins the Royal Navy's American station
The Baltic commitment helps explain why the Royal Navy entered the War of 1812 with fewer heavy ships on the North America and West Indies Station than a global fleet total might suggest.