The first world war was won by the Royal Navy and the French Army. Both blockaded Germany, on the water from receiving resources, and on land from getting to Paris or the channel. The aircraft and submarine industries were the high tech of 1914. By 1916 the Germans could not match the British and French for horsepower in their aircraft engines.

The allies were producing better fuels, lubricants and engines. Not for lack of German ingenuity, but for Germany's lack of resources. By 1917 the war was over, it was a question of when. The only time it was in doubt from that point on was the March offensive by the Germans in 1918 which got close to Paris, but the French and British held on.

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There was a big shift in how the approach was to be managed; UKian boats had to take the pain of sailing directly at opposition boats before turning and firing.  Damage to the UK boats would be the more dangerous bow-to-aft direction (as opposed to port-starboard).  But when the UKian boats got into their battle lines after they'd turned (crossing the T), they could fire at a much faster rate than most opposition, with greater accuracy. 

Because the UK ships would fire mostly from the windward direction of their enemy, their top gun ports only were used to prevent flooding if the lower gun ports were opened (ship would list away from the wind).  The French ships, who were mostly interested in just getting away, favouring to attack away from the wind - that way they'd attempt to merely cripple UKian ships, and run for it.

Higher cannon ports couldn't support heavy cannon,  until some Scotch company produced some light cannonades that had an exceptionally good range.  Also plating ships hulls in copper reduced limpet and weed fouling, which meant UKian ships could be  at sea for longer without losing too much speed.

So, a big change in tactics, technology, plus a good precedent in privateering during the Elizabethan age all helped.

This comment has been deleted by yicky yacky

Also, I voted for the battle of Midway because you didn't list Jack Sparrow vs the Giant Maneating Tentacled Vagina Monster.

But if you had, I would have voted for it.

_{Have you seen The Passion yet? Here's a spoiler for you: Jesus dies.
"...compassion is more than a 16 point word in scrabble." - MostlyHarmless}

As far as naval battles, I haven't really had any worth talking about in Civ 4 yet but in Civ 2 I think I had a pretty epic one when I was the Greeks.

I can't even think of any real "naval" battles that Luffy from One Piece had, almost all the action came on land.

Oh ok, how about the one near the Pirate Isles or whatever in Ship of Destiny, the last Liveship book. How's that for obscure?