Delitte, Jean-Yves Les Grandes Batailles Navales de l'Histoire

2500 and de guerre maritime de l'Antiquité à nos jours

The names Actium, Lepanto, Trafalgar and Jutland sound like battles that have gone down in history and are written in capital letters. The ship became a weapon in its own right, constantly evolving and changing. As catastrophic as these countless battles were, they also contributed to the greatness of humanity. For although conflicts inevitably bring misfortune, paradoxically they were also the source of progress. The galley, which dominated battles for almost two millennia, was eventually replaced by veritable cathedrals of wood and hemp, the majestic ships of the line, the most imposing of which carried more than a hundred cannons. The successive industrial revolutions then enabled ships to free themselves from the constraints of the forces of nature. Sails became optional and eventually disappeared altogether, while the holds were filled with steam engines and the hulls were covered with a steel shell. The ship of the line became a battleship whose cannons fired shells weighing almost a tonne beyond the horizon. In every era, there is a battle that marks its incessant technological upheavals. Historians have counted more than five hundred naval battles that have played a role in world history. Jean-Yves Delitte, official painter of the Belgian Navy and expert in maritime history, has selected 26 of the most significant battles. This selection offers a comprehensive overview of more than 2500 years of history. Join the crew on a journey through time and across the seas!