Struggle for Sea Power

A Naval History of the American Revolution

By: Sam Willis

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

The American Revolution was a naval war of immense scope and variety, including no less than 22 navies fighting on five oceans - to say nothing of rivers and lakes. In no other war were so many large-scale fleet battles fought, one of which was the most strategically significant naval battle in all of British, French, and American history. Simultaneous naval campaigns were fought in the English Channel, in the North and Mid-Atlantic, in the Mediterranean, off South Africa, in the Indian Ocean, in the Caribbean, in the Pacific, in the North Sea and, of course, off the Eastern Seaboard of America. Not until the Second World War would any nation actively fight in so many different theaters.

In The Struggle for Sea Power, Sam Willis traces every key military event in the path to American independence from a naval perspective, and he brings this important viewpoint to bear on economic, political, and social developments that were fundamental to the success of the Revolution. In doing so, Willis offers valuable new insights to American, British, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Russian history. The result is a far more profound understanding of the influence of sea power upon history, of the American path to independence, and of the rise and fall of the British Empire.

©2016 Sam Willis. Recorded by arrangement with W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. (P)2016 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

An Important but misunderstood topic,

Book is very good on the political, diplomatic and strategic importance of sea power from the American point of view. Not so good on technical and tactical detail. There is a lot of both technical and tactical information regarding naval weaponry and their application as well as tactics in the age of sail, so its hard to understand how badly he get tactics and weaponry wrong. On the other hand he quotes from primary sources when discussing the political, diplomatic and strategic ball of wax which are all so intertwined, that it is impossible to separate out with a lot of fresh information.

Definitely not taught in BigFedGov schools

A fascinating read the beginnings of our Navy how the American revolution, fought on many fronts in multiple parts of the world.

Seapower redefined

I learned much especially since the author presented a global perspective of the war. I was amazed to learn of the foreign powers involved around the world.

A great listen.

One of the best naval warfare stories of all time. The epilogue is a great look at what followed at the conclusion of the war.

So interesting.

It’s an eye opening experience to understand how significant the naval war of the American Revolution really was. There was so much information that explained the world theater that encompassed the full scope of what the Revolution meant internationally. The naval power that flexed and waned during these years was confiscating to learn more at depth. Wonderfully narrated and beautifully written.