T3h_shammy said:
Britain falling to Napoleon in 1805 due to a astounding loss at Trafalgar. Although that might just be ASB. Nelson's strategy was so far ahead of Villaneuve it was basically a forgone conclusion what was going to happen.
That is if Neslon exists or is still alive by the time of Trafalgar. Have a POD making him die before 1805 or making him not exist and you could have a less competent admiral in charge of the British fleet.
Without Nelson, there may be no Trafalgar. And if there is no Trafalgar, Napoleon gets what he needs : a complete Franco-Spanish fleet, ready to occupy the Royal Navy while the French troops land on British soil.
T3h_shammy said:
Post-Napoleonic wars I don't see how it can not be the premier naval power.
At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the British dominated the sea and had no challenger. The situation would remain the same up until WW2. So, if you wish to end the Royal Navy's dominance, you have to make it fall before 1815. In truth, destroying the Royal Navy before Trafalgar would be the best solution as Trafalgar sealed British dominance over the seas.
PaulPierce said:
Secondly, if the Royal Navy's was weaker than OTL, which other country's navy could claim the title of world's strongest? France? US? Germany?
That would depend on the POD.
I don't believe the US can take the prize before 1900 though... There isn't much time for them to achieve this. Yet, I can be wrong as the the US Navy had developped Ironclad ships during the civil war.
Germany can't achieve Naval Predominance before 1900 as it was only united in 1871 and the German fleet only started to worry the British shortly before WW1.
The possible leading Naval powers I see before Britain are Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and France. The latter seems to be the best option as France was Britain's main rival and the strongest force on the continent up until the end of the Napoleonic Wars.