[vodaPlaps]

Yes, the only way you can support armies and navies in ye olde days is to oppresse the people

I assume they supported it based on taxes on trade, for instance. They controlled what, 25% of the landmass at one point? And with naval dominance they had a huge amount of commerce and such. Its like the USA,spending only a tiny ammount %wise and still outspending everyone without oppressing anyone(much )

[Andoror]

and of course the reason they couldnt do it later, was cause other countries with larger populations industrialized too, and passed them. Both the US and Germany did so in about 1905 or so. France caught up, and has since been close. Then during the '20s I guess, Russia passed them.

For this narrative, I suggest Paul Kennedy, Rise of the Great Powers.

[pharmacologist30]

I agree.

What did you need to build a sailship (aside from workers to build them)?
Lots of wood (easy to get if you have colonies with lots of forests) as well as large amounts of rope and cloth. Also small amounts of iron (for exmaple for the anchor and the guns).

So most of the things you needed were regrowing natural resources (which were processed in 2-3 steps), something which really benefits colonial powers who have enough land to grow them.


Modern warships in contrast are more complicated and need metal alloys as well as masses of electronics (and maybe even a nuclear plant). Stuff that comes from several branchesof industry is processed in several steps from the natural resources.

Also take maintenance.
In sailships most of the maintenance can be made by the crew itself and didn´t even need special replacement parts, like checking and replacing parts ot the takelage or sails. There were not many more complicated things (one example would be to free the hull from barnacles).
Nowadays you cannot repair/maintain your warships by just felling some trees
Most of the repairs need replacement parts that have to be bought (and kept in stock) and maybe even need different specialists (much more specialised than the ship carpenters of sailships).

But they seem to be worth the effort. I assume you only need a single destroyer to sink the spanish armada

[Vzkdgdqx]

Originally posted by Kataphraktoi
Yes, the only way you can support armies and navies in ye olde days is to oppresse the people

I assume they supported it based on taxes on trade, for instance. They controlled what, 25% of the landmass at one point? And with naval dominance they had a huge amount of commerce and such. Its like the USA,spending only a tiny ammount %wise and still outspending everyone without oppressing anyone(much ) Ever hear of press gangs?

[prmnwoks]

Originally posted by VetLegion
I think airpower is a nice example. In WWII countries built and operated tens of thousands of aircraft , today they buy them in dozens. UK bought 200 eurofigthers. They used to lose that many planes in a month of fighting in Europe. If the UK devoted 60% of its GDP to making weapons, like in WW2, then it'd be able to afford thousands of eurofighters.

[yqpY4iw6]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
they never had a large army, except during wartime... Too right. Remember the British army that drove George Washington out of New York in 1776 was the largest British expeditionary force up to that time.