Articles of War: Strategies Tactics and Technologies in Modern Warfare

By Fouad Sabry

What is Articles of War

The Articles of War are a collection of regulations that were drafted to govern the behavior of a nation's armed forces, including its naval and military forces. The first recorded instance of the phrase was in Robert Monro's work from 1637, which is titled "His expedition with the worthy Scot's regiment called Mac-keyes regiment etc." The word can also be used to allude to military law in general. It was in the year 1556 that the Swedish counterpart of the word "Krigsartiklar" was first referenced. On the other hand, the phrase is typically used in a more precise manner, with the contemporary spelling and capitalization, to refer to the laws that were drafted in the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution, as well as the regulations that were later based on those regulations in the United States.

How you will benefit

(I) Insights, and validations about the following topics:

Chapter 1: Articles of War

Chapter 2: Mutiny

Chapter 3: Battle of Toulon (1744)

Chapter 4: John Byng

Chapter 5: Defence of the Realm Act 1914

Chapter 6: Conduct unbecoming

Chapter 7: Offences Against the Person Act 1861

Chapter 8: Act of Uniformity 1548

Chapter 9: Treason Felony Act 1848

Chapter 10: Confiscation Act of 1862

(II) Answering the public top questions about articles of war.

Who this book is for

Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of Articles of War.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Billion Knowledgeable
• Release date: Jun 22, 2024

Book preview

Chapter 1: Articles of War

The Articles of War are a collection of regulations that were drafted to govern the behavior of a nation's armed forces, including its naval and military forces. and laws that were later enacted in the United States based on them.

At various points in time during the history of the Articles, there were distinct sets for the army and navy.

The earliest Articles of War that were written in England were intended for the Royal Navy. It was through these provisions that the statutory regulations that regulate and govern the behavior of sailors of the Royal Navy were assembled. These documents were prominently displayed on all navy vessels and outlined a list of criminal provisions that apply to members of the Royal Navy and other individuals to whom the Act applied. These provisions were in addition to the criminal law of England and Wales as well as any local criminal law that may have been in effect. The provisions of the tri-service Armed Forces Act 2006 eventually took the place of the naval Articles, which had been preserved in the Naval Discipline Act of 1957.

From the 25th of December in 1749, the following articles and orders were formed; they are commanded to be respected and put into operation, and they are to be carried out in both times of peace and times of war.

I.

Divine worship.

All commanders, captains, and officers, in or belonging to any of His Majesty’s ships or vessels of war, ought to bring about the public worship of the All-Powerful God, that is in accordance with the liturgy that was established by legislation for the Church of England, having a solemn tone, performed in their own ships in a manner that was both orderly and reverent; in addition, shall make certain that the sermon and prayers, based on the chaplains who are members of the individual ships' holy orders, be carried out with utmost care; and that the Lord’s day be observed according to law.

II.

Swearing, Drunkenness, scandalous actions, &c.

All officers of the flag, and all persons in or belonging to His Majesty’s ships or vessels of war, having a history of taking profane oaths, cursings, execrations, drunkenness, uncleanness, and additional actions that are scandalous, in derogation of God’s honour, also the deterioration of proper manners, shall be subject to the punishment that a court martial can deem appropriate to impose on them, moreover, in proportion to the kind and extent of the offense they have committed.

III.

The act of sharing intelligence with an adversary, or rebel.

Whenever any officer, mariner, soldier, as well as any other member of the fleet, shall give, hold, in addition to providing or sharing intelligence with any adversary or rebel, without leave from the king’s majesty, Lord High Admiral, if you prefer, the commissioners who are responsible for carrying out the duties of the Lord High Admiral, to the commander in chief, the officer who is in charge of him, anyone who is so offensive in this manner, as well as being found guilty of the charges brought against them by a court martial, must be punished with the death penalty.

a letter or telegram from a rebel or an adversary fourth. If any letter of message from any enemy or rebel, be conveyed to any officer, mariner, or soldier or other in the fleet, and the said officer, mariner, or soldier, or other as aforesaid, shall not, within twelve hours, having opportunity so to do, acquaint his superior or a commanding officer, or if any superior officer being acquainted therewith, shall not in convenient time reveal the same to the commander in chief of the squadron, every such person so offending, and being convicted thereof by the sentence of the court martial, shall be punished with death, or such other punishment as the nature and degree of the offense shall deserve, and the court martial shall impose.

All individuals who are of the nature of spies, including spies. All spies, and all persons whatsoever, who shall come, or be found, in the nature of spies, to bring or deliver any seducing letters or messages from any enemy or rebel, or endeavor to corrupt any captain, officer, mariner, or other in the fleet, to betray his trust, being convicted of any such offense by the sentence of the court martial, shall be punished with death, or such other punishment, as the nature and degree of the offence shall deserve, and the court martial shall impose.

It is possible to relieve an adversary or a rebel. On pain of death or any other punishment that the court martial deems appropriate to impose, and as the nature and degree of the crime shall deserve, no person in the fleet shall relieve an enemy or rebel with money, victuals, powder, shot, arms, ammunition, or any other supplies whatsoever, directly or indirectly. This includes any and all supplies.

On the board of prizes, there were papers and other items discovered. In the event that any papers, charter parties, bills of lading, passports, or other writings are taken, seized, or found aboard any ship or ships that are surprized or taken as prize, they are required to be properly preserved. The very originals of these documents must be sent, in their entirety and without any form of fraud, to the court of the admiralty or any other court of commissioners that is authorized to determine whether the prize was lawfully captured. The court of the admiralty or any other court of commissioners that is authorized to determine whether the prize was lawfully captured, shall be viewed, utilized, and proceeded upon in accordance with the law. This is to be done under the condition that any person who violates the law will forfeit and lose his share of the capture, and shall suffer such additional punishment as the nature and degree of his offense shall be found to deserve.

The act of stealing money or other valuables from winners. No person in or belonging to the fleet shall take out of any prize, or ship seized for prize, any money, plate, or goods, unless it shall be necessary for the better securing thereof, or for the necessary use and service of any of His Majesty's ships or vessels of war, before the same be adjudged lawful prize in some admiralty court; but the full and entire account of the whole, without embezzlement, shall be brought in, and judgement passed entirely upon the whole without fraud, upon pain that every person offending herein shall forfeit and lose his share of the capture, and suffer such further punishment as shall be imposed by a court martial, or such court of admiralty, according to the nature and degree of the offense.

Depriving or mistreating captives is the ninth offense. In the event that any ship or vessel is taken as a prize, none of the officers, mariners, or other individuals who are on board her shall be stripped of their clothes, pillaged, beaten, or otherwise mistreated in any way due to the fact that the person or persons who committed the offense shall be subject to the punishment that a court martial deems appropriate to inflict.

To get ready for the combat, X. Every flag officer, captain and commander in the fleet, who, upon signal or order of fight, or sight of any ship or ships which it may be his duty to engage, or who, upon likelihood of engagement, shall not make the necessary preparations for fight, and shall not in his own person, and according to his place, encourage the inferior officers and men to fight courageously, shall suffer death, or such other punishment, as from the nature and degree of the offence a court martial shall deem him to deserve; and if any person in the fleet shall treacherously or cowardly yield or cry for quarter, every person so offending, and being convicted thereof by the sentence of a court martial, shall suffer death.

In the field of battle, obedience to all orders. Every person in the fleet, who shall not duly observe the orders of the admiral, flag officer, commander of any squadron or division, or other his superior officer, for assailing, joining battle with, or making defense against any fleet, squadron, or ship, or shall not obey the orders of his superior officer as aforesaid in the time of action, to the best of his power, or shall not