Technology and Tradition: Mine Warfare and the Royal Navy’s Strategy of Coastal Assault, 1870–1890

Naval power projection operations were an important tool in Victorian Britain’s strategic arsenal. From the 1860s technological change in the form of mines presented a major threat to the Royal Navy’s strategy of coastal assault. In order to continue to operate in this environment the Royal Navy proactively engaged with mining technology. Through this process it shaped the new technology to suit its particular strategic and cultural requirements. The war scares with Russia in 1878 and 1885 provided the impetus to operationalise these developments and highlighted how the Royal Navy and its coastal assault strategy remained an important facilitator of British policy.