Changes

The first navy of [[England]] was established in the 9th century by King [[Alfred the Great]]. During the medieval period England had a significant naval force, defeating the [[France|French]] navy at the [[Battle of Sluys]] in 1340, in the early years of the [[Hundred Years War]]. Later, under Queen [[Elizabeth I]] the English fleet defeated the [[Spanish Armada]] in 1588, but suffered several later defeats at the hands of the Spanish navy.  

The first navy of [[England]] was established in the 9th century by King [[Alfred the Great]]. During the medieval period England had a significant naval force, defeating the [[France|French]] navy at the [[Battle of Sluys]] in 1340, in the early years of the [[Hundred Years War]]. Later, under Queen [[Elizabeth I]] the English fleet defeated the [[Spanish Armada]] in 1588, but suffered several later defeats at the hands of the Spanish navy.  

A permanent naval service, under [[Parliament|Parliamentary]] control, was developed during the rule of [[Oliver Cromwell]] in the 1650s. In 1707, with the union of [[England]] and [[Scotland]] into the [[United Kingdom]], the Royal Scots Navy was merged into the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy suffered defeats against the Spanish navy at [[Cartagena de Indias]] in 1741, during the [[War of Jenkin's Ear]], and against the French navy at the 1781 [[Battle of the Chesapeake]].  

A permanent naval service, under [[Parliament]]ary control, was developed during the rule of [[Oliver Cromwell]] in the 1650s. In 1707, with the union of [[England]] and [[Scotland]] into the [[United Kingdom]], the Royal Scots Navy was merged into the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy suffered defeats against the Spanish navy at [[Cartagena de Indias]] in 1741, during the [[War of Jenkin's Ear]], and against the French navy at the 1781 [[Battle of the Chesapeake]].  

However, during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] the Royal Navy played a major role, reaching the height of its achievements at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]] in 1805, where a British fleet commanded by [[Horatio Nelson|Lord Nelson]] decisively defeated the French. During the remainder of the 19th century the Royal Navy became the world's dominant naval force, and played a major part in building and defending the [[British Empire]]. In 1906 HMS Dreadnought became the Royal Navy's first "all-big-gun" battleship, a key turning point in British naval history; subsequently, large battleships became the dominant form of seapower.  

However, during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] the Royal Navy played a major role, reaching the height of its achievements at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]] in 1805, where a British fleet commanded by [[Horatio Nelson|Lord Nelson]] decisively defeated the French. During the remainder of the 19th century the Royal Navy became the world's dominant naval force, and played a major part in building and defending the [[British Empire]]. In 1906 HMS Dreadnought became the Royal Navy's first "all-big-gun" battleship, a key turning point in British naval history; subsequently, large battleships became the dominant form of seapower.