Final answer:
Spanish naval warfare was less successful than British due to traditional strategies and failures in adapting to new tactics, resulting in historical defeats at the hands of the British Royal Navy and later the U.S. Navy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish and British naval warfare techniques were distinct in several ways throughout different historical periods. During the Armada in 1588, the Spanish fleet encountered catastrophes due to both the chaotic weather and the adept maneuvers of the British Royal Navy. The British, adopting more innovative and nimble tactics, managed to defend their territory without any loss of their own vessels, while the Spanish fleet mostly succumbed to stormy seas post-battle. This marked the beginning of the decline of Spain as a dominant European naval power.
Later, in the Napoleonic Wars, while the Spanish sided with the French, their naval prowess further deteriorated under British blockades and lost battles, such as the decisive Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Again, Spain's alliance with Napoleon culminated in their naval defeat against the superior British fleet. Lastly, during the Spanish-American War, the U.S. Navy's victory over the Spanish fleet in the Caribbean and the Philippines in 1898 signified not only the ascendancy of American naval capabilities but also the continued struggle of the Spanish fleet to maintain a grip on its colonies.
Considering these historical events, it can be surmised that Spanish naval warfare over time was characterized by traditional and less adaptable strategies, while British naval warfare effectively leveraged maneuverability, weather, and blockading tactics to secure dominance on the seas.