place to provide sufficient infrastructure to meet these challenges. The majority of the navy’s manufacturing capacity and dry-docking facilities were concentrated on the South East coast which had expanded to meet the demands faced by the Anglo-Dutch wars. In 1689 when war with France eventually came the only dry dock facility in the channel was located at Portsmouth. In 1692 the main focus of naval activity shifted to west because the French moved their primary fleet to Brest. In 1698 the Admiralty authorised a complete new dockyard be built at Plymouth housing a dry dock and wet dock. Having both of these facilities allowed Western Squadron to grow fast and by the early 1740s it had become the navy's main battle fleet. The British were concerned with maintaining control of their own sea lanes – particularly the English Channel - while restricting the activities, both military and economic, of their rivals and foes. In 1747 Admiral Hawke suggested the squadron should be used for containment purposes and developed the idea that it keep an almost continual watch on the French Navy and French coast. This was agreed by the Admiralty and the naval blockade developed as a consequence of this policy. During the 1759 blockade of Brest, Admiral Hawke was the first to establish a system of replenishment at sea in order to maintain a blockade. Commanders Incomplete list of post holders included: = died in post Vice Admiral Lord Anson (1746– 3 May 1747) Rear-Admiral Sir Peter Warren (7 July 1747 – 3 August 1747) Admiral Sir Edward Hawke, (3 August 1747 – 1748) Admiral Sir Edward Hawke, (1755- June 1756) Admiral John Byng, (1755-1756) Vice Admiral Lord Anson (1757– October 1758) Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Saunders, (October 1758-9 May 1759) Admiral Sir Edward Hawke, (9 May 1759 – 4 January 1763) Admiral Augustus Keppel (22 March 1778– 18 March 1779) Admiral Charles Hardy (18 March 1779 – 1780) Admiral Sir Francis Geary (May 1780-September 1780) Vice Admiral George Darby (1780–1782) Admiral Earl Howe (1782–1783) Commodore Sir John Lindsay, (1783–84) Commodore John Leveson-Gower, (1785–88) Admiral Earl Howe, (1790) Admiral Earl Howe, (June 1793 – April 1794) Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, (July 1793 - April 1794) Admiral Edward Pellew, (April 1794 -1795) Admiral Lord Bridport, (1795–1797) (temporary command) Admiral Lord Bridport, (1797–1800) Admiral Lord St Vincent, (1800–1803) Admiral Sir William Cornwallis, (1803–1806) Admiral Lord Gardner, (1807–1808) Admiral Lord St Vincent,