On the successful completion of the War of Independence, the American
navy was disbanded, and it was not until the late 1790s that a regular
naval force was reconstituted. Provoked by the need to protect American
merchant shipping from the belligerent European nations and the
piratical Barbary powers, Congress decided on a programme of frigate
building, which included the 32-gun frigate Essex. Designed by William
Hackett, Essex was a typical medium frigate of her time. Working from
both US and British sources, the author has reconstructed many
previously undetermined details of the ship and in passing has
rehabilitated the reputation of the designer as one who was responsible
for one of the best balanced of that generation's frigates.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of
this title.
