Steel Navy: 1898

At the end of the Civil War, America stopped spending money on her navy. By 1881, when the US Navy kept only 26 operational ships, America was beginning to realize how backward their navy had become. At sea, America was at best a third class power. Chile had a larger and more modern navy, although their ships were built under contract in England. American political leaders began to take action, and began to build steel-hulled, modern warships during the 1880's and 1890's. By 1898, America's navy was becoming one of the world's best in quality, if not in quantity. The United States Naval Academy had been maintained at a high level through the entire period. In the war with Spain, the world learned that America was much more formidable at sea than most Europeans believed. Her ships were modern, her officers skilled and daring, and her ordinary seamen were highly trained. This is a novel about the development of the warships of the steel navy and the officers who manned them.