In 1797 there were two large mutinies in the Royal Navy at Spithead and Nore. While they were quite different in character they were both considerable breakdowns in discipline and even gave vent to some pro-Revolutionary propaganda. The effect was global with ships from the West Indies to the Cape joining in various munities. In OTL they were eventually crushed with a combination of compromise (at Spithead) and brutal force (Nore).
However, what if things got so tense that sizable parts of the fleet defected to France? One ship actually did do this, the infamous Marie Antoinette (and another, the Hermione defected to the Spanish in the Caribbean). So it is clearly not impossible to consider a slightly altered set of circumstances to cause a number of mutineers to 'vote with their feet' and head to France.
How might this effect the conduct of the ongoing French Revolutionary War? Could this alter things and derail Napoleon's rise to glory? Could it allow a stronger France at sea? What would the reaction at home be?
Thanks for any thoughts!
However, what if things got so tense that sizable parts of the fleet defected to France? One ship actually did do this, the infamous Marie Antoinette (and another, the Hermione defected to the Spanish in the Caribbean). So it is clearly not impossible to consider a slightly altered set of circumstances to cause a number of mutineers to 'vote with their feet' and head to France.
How might this effect the conduct of the ongoing French Revolutionary War? Could this alter things and derail Napoleon's rise to glory? Could it allow a stronger France at sea? What would the reaction at home be?
Thanks for any thoughts!
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