A
step-by-step guide to the intricacies of the square rig. The author has
drawn 400 diagrams that clearly show how each separate item of rigging
is fitted to the masts, yards, and sails. Each drawing deals with only
one particular aspect and is accompanied by a logical and straight
forward narrative.
Following the pirate scourge of the early 18th
century, many sea captains took to privateering as a means of making
money. A form of nationally sponsored piracy, it reached its peak during
the American Revolution, when the fledgling American navy had to rely
on privateers to disrupt British shipping between England and the
rebellious colonies. Following peace in 1815, many former privateers
turned to piracy, spawning the last great piratical wave, which would
last for a decade. The world of these privateers and latter-day pirates
comes vividly to life in this detailed exploration of their ships,
crews, ports and battle tactics.
The swashbuckling English sea captains of the
Elizabethan era were a particular breed of adventurer, combining
maritime and military skill with a seemingly insatiable appetite for
Spanish treasure. Angus Konstam describes these characters, including
such well-known sea dogs as Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh, John Hawkins
and Martin Frobisher. For about 40 years they fought a private war with
the Spanish, and while their success in defeating the Spanish Armada is
well known, this book also covers their exploits in the New World.
This book gives an accurate picture of the
pirates who sailed in the waters of the Caribbean and off the American
coastline during the 'golden age' of piracy between 1660 and 1730. It
traces the origins of piratical activity in the 16th century and
examines the Boucaneer (Buccaneer) culture in Jamaica and Hispaniola. It
details what drove individuals to a life of piracy, how they dressed,
their weaponry, the ships they used and the codes by which they
operated. Whether viewed as villains or victims the Pirates were a major
threat to shipping and commerce in the western Atlantic for more than
70 years. Elite 67, 69 and 74 are also available in a single volume
special edition as ‘Pirates’.
By
the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 Britain was the undisputed
master of the seas, owing to the power and strength of the Royal Navy.
Its fleets, comprising ships of the line, frigates, and gunboats, had
doubled in size since the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in
1793, totalling almost a thousand capital vessels. This book examines
the commanders, men, and ships of the Royal Navy during the French
Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, and discusses the Navy's command
structure (from the Admiralty down to ship level) and its organization
at sea. The tactics employed in action by a fleet, squadron, and
individual ship, respectively are also discussed, as are the medical
services providing a fascinating insight into the navy that ruled the
waves.
By
1805 the 44-gun frigate was probably viewed as a failed experiment
whilst the 38-gun frigate was viewed as the vessel of the future. Ten
years later every navy was building 44-gun frigates and today it is
viewed as the symbol of the Napoleonic-era cruiser. This remarkable
transformation resulted from the performance of three ships - the
Constitution, United States, and President - 44-gun frigates built for
the United States Navy between 1794 and 1799. Their victories in the
naval War of 1812, as well as their performance against the Barbary
Pirates, caught the imagination of the world - and spurred all navies
into re-examining the class.
The
deeds and personalities of famous pirates have received significant
attention in recent years: however, no detailed depiction of their
vessels has ever been produced. This title redresses the imbalance,
conducting a detailed exploration of the wide variety of pirate vessels
that sailed the high seas during the 'golden age' of piracy (1690-
1730), from gun-bristling warships to smaller craft such as sloops,
brigantines and early schooners. It incorporates the latest
archaeological evidence to produce a fascinating account of these
vessels, detailing their origins, development and tactical engagement.
Packed with contemporary illustrations and superbly detailed colour
artwork, the ships of the 'golden age' are brought vividly to life.
Over the centuries, naval relations between Japan and Korea appear
to have alternated between peaceful trade and outright hostility.
However, this impression can be misleading, as much of what passed for
mercantile activity was in fact conducted by Japanese pirate fleets, who
pillaged the coasts of Korea and China in a long-lasting tradition that
culminated in the greatest pirate raid of all: Hideyoshi's invasion of
Korea in 1592. This was the conflict that involved Ming China and almost
dragged in Siam. It also led to Korea developing East Asia's most
famous warship: the legendary turtle ship, which is described for the
first time in full technical detail in this book.
Fighting Ships of the Far East (1) adds enormously to the hitherto
small corpus of knowledge about a fascinating and little known subject.
Using detailed descriptions, accurate cutaway plates and reliable
historical examples, this book covers the history of Chinese ship design
and naval warfare from the beginning of the Han dynasty to the first
few years of the Ming dynasty. The epic battle of Lake Poyang in in
1363, won by the man who was to become the first Ming Emperor, is also
detailed.
In his second volume on the Tudor navy, naval
expert Angus Konstam covers the extraordinary transformation of the
Tudor fleet during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This period
witnessed the birth of a whole new breed of warships designed to
dominate the seas and expand the corners of the empire. Detailing
warfare during the age of Sea Dogs such as Sir Francis Drake and Walter
Raleigh, and the landmark event of the Spanish Armada, he explains the
technological innovations that allowed this small but efficient navy to
defeat the larger Spanish fleet. Packed with new research, in-depth
analysis, photographs, full-colour reconstructions and detailed cutaway
artwork, this book is a must for any lover of maritime history, and for
anyone who wants to understand how Britain came to rule the waves,
creating and retaining her supremacy across the seas throughout the age
of fighting sail.
