The West Indies campaign was one of Britain's most successful but least remembered Napoleonic efforts. Instead of attacking France only at its strongest point, Britain removed colonial bases, commerce, and revenue while the Continental System restricted French movement. Sea control made it possible to isolate overseas territories and take them in sequence. The resources denied to France strengthened Britain's own war economy and its ability to support continental allies. The campaign illustrates a durable global-war method: immobilize the opponent, secure maritime supply lines, and dismantle the peripheral positions that sustain the main theater.
Notable Point · 45:30-47:59
The West Indies campaign as a model for global war
The neglected West Indies campaign shows how sea control can isolate a peer competitor by stripping away overseas resources and supporting allied fronts.