How to save the french navy during the revolution?

I've been reading a lot about the french revolution and the napoleonic wars lately. It seems as though the navy was not only destroyed leadership-wise during the revolution, but also heavily de-prioritised by the new government. As far as I understand this is the norm during revolutions and civil wars. This in turn was one of the many, though far from only, reasons that Napoleon eventually lost.

So, how could the french navy have been saved, potentially even grown stronger, during the revolution? Could some revolutionary talent have made it's way into the leadership? Could the sailors have been some of the forerunners of the revolution and thus suffered less at revolutionary hands?
 

SwampTiger

Banned
Actually, the French ROYAL Navy did fairly well considering the leadership was mostly nobility. The problem is the French Royal navy was based upon the King's wishes and desires more than the merchant communities needs. A stronger core of middle class officers would have helped preserve the officer and administrative core. The revolutionary navy was plagued with lack of resources, administration and purpose. The revolutionary period saw a reduction in finances for defense. The available resources went to the army to defend the state from multiple enemies.

The best way to save the Revolutionary Navy would have been to start with the merchant marine prior to the Revolution. Build a strong corps of officers with maritime experience. Upon the outbreak of Revolution, determine the Naval officers best inclined to support the revolutionary government. Don't kill the Royal family! Once the terror breaks out, Britain becomes an implacable enemy. If you can keep Britain neutral, you have a chance at stabilizing the navy, without constant threat at sea. Find good administrators to build a naval bureaucracy. Guarantee a minimum budget to ensure supplies, repair and maintenance of existing ships. Decide on a reasonable purpose for your navy. A navy to challenge the British is a step too far. Expeditions to Haiti and Egypt are foolish. At best, request British aid to placate Haiti, if needed by offering other colonies. All of this is ASB once the mob took over!
 
Actually, the French ROYAL Navy did fairly well considering the leadership was mostly nobility. The problem is the French Royal navy was based upon the King's wishes and desires more than the merchant communities needs. A stronger core of middle class officers would have helped preserve the officer and administrative core. The revolutionary navy was plagued with lack of resources, administration and purpose. The revolutionary period saw a reduction in finances for defense. The available resources went to the army to defend the state from multiple enemies.

The best way to save the Revolutionary Navy would have been to start with the merchant marine prior to the Revolution. Build a strong corps of officers with maritime experience. Upon the outbreak of Revolution, determine the Naval officers best inclined to support the revolutionary government. Don't kill the Royal family! Once the terror breaks out, Britain becomes an implacable enemy.

Britain began military preparations in late 1792 and declared that war was inevitable unless France gave up its conquests, notwithstanding French assurances they would not attack Holland or annex the Low Countries. Execution of Louis was just a convenient excuse for breaking the relations.

Of course, paying the crews and not executing the experienced officers also could be helpful.

If you can keep Britain neutral, you have a chance at stabilizing the navy, without constant threat at sea. Find good administrators to build a naval bureaucracy. Guarantee a minimum budget to ensure supplies, repair and maintenance of existing ships. Decide on a reasonable purpose for your navy. A navy to challenge the British is a step too far. Expeditions to Haiti and Egypt are foolish. At best, request British aid to placate Haiti, if needed by offering other colonies. All of this is ASB once the mob took over!

Well, the mob had little to do with the expeditions to Haiti and Egypt or even conquest of Belgium and the Dutch Republic. But if somehow Britain is sustainably neutral then the domino effect goes well beyond the surviving French navy. For example, there may be no 2nd and 3rd coalitions, emperor Paul of Russia may survive, etc.
 

SwampTiger

Banned
Yes, Britain's determination to contain France, in any form, and limit the power of any continental power, was at the heart of its diplomacy in this period. The confused state of the French revolutionary governments did not help reassure the British leaders of French desires for peace. Monarchical Coalition invasions of France only exacerbated the problems.

Bonaparte's invasions hurt the navy by loss of experienced leaders and crews, loss of ships, and loss of morale in the fleet. Britain had invaded Haiti in 1795/8(?), hoping to limit the spread of slave revolts. France felt compelled to respond.
 
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