Mark Lardas - Constitution vs Guerriere: Frigates during the War of 1812
Famed
as a classic naval duel, a one-on-one clash between two sailing
frigates offered the victor immeasurable fame and glory. During the War
of 1812, the Royal Navy and United States Navy squared off in four such
duels, the most famous that between the USS Constitution and HMS
Guerrière. Ships and tactics between the two nations varied enormously,
with the American navy favouring a revolutionary design of frigate, with
twenty-four pounder guns and heavy structural timbers, while the
British, used to fighting the French and Spanish navies, relied on
smaller, eighteen-pounder frigates. Through first-hand accounts of these
four single-ship actions and fascinating comparisons of artillery, crew
ability and tactical achievements, this book offers an unparalleled
insight into the ruthless reality of frigate battles in the War of 1812.
