Funeral of Edward VII - Naval ContingentNaval Contingent - Sailors marching with reversed arms. Part of Box 127 Boswell Collection - Funeral of Edward VII. Between 1815 and 1914, the Navy saw little serious action, owing to the absence of any opponent strong enough to challenge its dominance. During this period, naval warfare underwent a comprehensive transformation, brought about by steam propulsion, metal ship construction, and explosive munitions. Despite having to completely replace its war fleet, the Navy managed to maintain its overwhelming advantage over all potential rivals. Royal_Navy,1815.E2.80.931914