Convoys: The British Struggle Against Napoleonic Europe and America

by Roger Knight

The first account of Britain’s convoys during the Napoleonic Wars—showing how the protection of trade played a decisive role in victory
 
During the Napoleonic Wars thousands of merchant ships crisscrossed narrow seas and wide oceans, protected by Britain’s warships. These were wars of attrition and raw materials had to reach their shores timber and hemp from the Baltic, sulfur from Sicily, and saltpeter from Bengal. Britain’s fate rested on the strength of its economy—and convoys played a vital role in securing victory.
 
Leading naval historian Roger Knight examines how convoys ensured the protection of trade and transport of troops, allowing Britain to take the upper hand. Detailing the many hardships these ships faced, from the shortage of seaman to the vicissitudes of the weather, Knight sheds light on the innovation and seamanship skills that made convoys such an invaluable tool in Britain’s arsenal. The convoy system laid the foundation for Britain’s narrow victory over Napoleon and his allies in 1815 and, in doing so, established its naval and mercantile power at sea for a hundred years.

Genres: Military History

416 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binged this for the sake of research and I cannot tell you how helpful it is, and how many juicy, interesting stories are lurking within.

[Kelli Daniels-Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convoys: The British Struggle Against Napoleonic Europe and America is a masterfully researched, deeply illuminating account of one of Britain’s most overlooked wartime triumphs. Roger Knight brings the convoy system to life with impressive clarity, showing how merchant ships escorted across dangerous seas became the backbone of Britain’s survival and eventual victory during the Napoleonic Wars.

One standout moment for me was the vivid exploration of how critical raw materials were secured and transported from every corner of the world. The sections detailing the movement of Baltic timber, Sicilian sulfur, and Bengal saltpeter reveal the global interdependence that shaped the war, making the historical stakes feel alive and immediate. Knight doesn’t just present facts he builds a narrative that captures the grit, tension, and ingenuity that defined these operations.

His attention to the real hardships these convoys endured harsh weather, shortages of skilled seamen, and the constant threat of enemy disruption adds emotional weight while highlighting the extraordinary seamanship behind each journey. The book also excels at situating convoys within the broader military and economic strategies that ultimately led to Napoleon’s defeat.

This is an essential read for anyone fascinated by naval history, global trade, or the mechanics of wartime endurance. Knight delivers a compelling, authoritative, and richly contextualized work that solidifies the convoy system’s place as a decisive force in shaping the modern world. A superb piece of historical scholarship.

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convoys: The British Struggle Against Napoleonic Europe and America by Roger Knight
Roger Knight delivers a deeply researched and compelling account of an often underexamined pillar of Britain’s survival and eventual triumph during the Napoleonic Wars: the convoy system. Convoys illuminates the staggering scale of merchant shipping, the delicate supply chains that sustained the British war effort, and the naval ingenuity required to protect those lifelines across treacherous seas. Knight balances tactical detail with sweeping historical perspective, offering a vivid look at the hardships, shortages, weather hazards, and strategic brilliance that shaped Britain’s maritime dominance. For readers of military history, naval strategy, or Napoleonic era studies, this is an authoritative and rewarding exploration of the vessels and systems that quietly won a war of attrition.

[Mark Bowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a work of considerable erudition and immense research but it is perhaps a better book to dip into for particular information than to read from cover to cover. This is because the author tends to skip rather suddenly from topic to topic, to such an extent that occasionally the footnotes don't seem to relate to the text that they are attached to. The author's syntax is not above reproach either, unless the Master of the 'Alexander' really was 'very leaky' (146). Nevertheless, I will find this book of immense value in my own research.