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I'm looking for a short period in the 19th century when France might have overcome the historical British dominance at sea.

Given the British tendency to maintain and fund a strong navy, there are few real opportunities but I've been thinking that there may have been a chance early in the move to steam power.

Assume the following:

1. Someone in Britain's naval hierarchy fails to recognize the impact of steam power. The naval office remains hidebound with a handful of old fogies, and France manages to jump ahead a generation (meaning a couple of years in terms fo technological advancement at this time) and gets a half-dozen steampowered, partially armored, ocean-going warships before Britain realizes the impact of this new technology.

2. Assume a somewhat weaker Britain with fewer financial resources or a stronger post-napoleonic France (see my Quasi-War series for an example).


Could a handful of "more modern" ocean-going ships in, say, the 1840's, seriously hope to wipe the Royal Navy from the English Channel?

Assume Britain sends forth a couple dozen classic sailing ships. France replies with ten plus four of those new-fangled steam ships.

Could this work, even for a short time-period?

Thanks.
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