Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "warships"

Building the Wooden Fighting Ship by James W. Dodds

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


They capture our imaginations. They majestically sail across oceans. They play a key role in Britain’s defense of the realm. Yet we tend to think of these wooden walls as if they spring from an idea to fully built ships. The truth is far different and, although they may not measure up to today’s technology, these fighting vessels are the most technologically advanced of their day. This book delves into what it takes to build a ship from the seedling of an oak tree to the ideal warship that leads to an island nation’s supremacy upon the seas.

The backbone of the Royal Navy sprang from a captured Spanish ship, originally built by French shipwrights in 1740. This man-of-war was superior to all existing vessels in the English fleet, so the Admiralty decided to base future warships on her design. One of the two-deck, seventy-four-gun vessels to be built was HMS Thunderer, whose keel was laid in 1756 at Woolwich, the first royal dockyard. It took four years of construction before her launch in the middle of the Seven Years’ War. At the dawn of the next century, 139 out of 800 ships were seventy-fours.

But this is far more than just a book about ship construction and the Royal Navy. It also shines a light on Britain’s shipping industry, the timber trade, the elements needed to build ships, the dockyards where they were built, and the people needed to turn designs into finished products. Ten chapters and an epilogue comprise this volume, beginning with “The Origins of the 74” and concluding with a recap of Thunderer’s career from her launch to her loss in 1780.

Dodds is both a shipwright and an artist, whose black and white drawings provide readers with a clear understanding of each facet along the way. Moore sails yachts and writes books about ships. Their expertise shines through, turning what might be a ho-hum dry treatise on shipbuilding into a fascinating and easy-to-understand narrative. Originally published in 1984, this new edition is beautifully rendered and well worth the price. There are so many details presented that even those familiar with ship construction will discover new tidbits of information, while those with little understanding of the industry will come away with a deeper appreciation of what it took to build one wooden fighting ship out of more than 3,400 oak trees.




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Spanish Warships in the Age of Sail, 1700-1860: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates by Rif Winfield

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As history passes, change is inevitable. Sometimes, it’s hard to see how those changes influence fundamental elements within an organization and its equipment. Spanish Warships in the Age of Sail, the latest volume in the Warships in the Age of Sail series, seeks to alter this by showcasing how Spain’s naval fleet evolved during a specific span of time. In this case, the book focuses on the period in which the Bourbon monarchy came to power in November 1700 until steam began to replace sail. Whenever possible, the authors also discuss each ship’s career, where she sailed and fought, and what became of her.

The book opens with an explanation of the Spanish Navy’s structure and organization, which is followed by information concerning Spain’s weights and measurements, names, dates, naval ranks, monetary units, flags and royal arms, and conversions. Two chronologies are included; that of the Trastamara and Habsburg Eras covers 1492 through 1697, and the Bourbon Era begins with the death of Carlos II in 1700 and extends through the monarchy’s restoration in 1874. The next seventy-six pages provide a historical overview (before the Habsburgs into the mid-19th century), the leaders of the Bourbon Navy, Spain’s regional navies that were precursors to its national navy, auxiliary groups (such as the guardacostas or coastguard), the Manila Galleons, fleet lists, naval construction, departmental organization and dockyards, naval ordnance and architecture, copper sheathing, management of material resources, and acquiring, training, maintaining, and retaining naval personnel.

It is at this juncture that the authors discuss the sources and archives that were consulted, as well as the difficulties they encountered in identifying and providing information on individual vessels. There is also a bibliography, a glossary, and a list of the abbreviations used in the main portion of the book.

The heart of the book appears in twenty-four chapters where Spanish naval vessels are discussed, beginning with ships of the line with three decks and ending with lesser fore-and-aft rig boats. The major warships cover six chapters and each is arranged chronologically. Among the other vessels found in subsequent chapters are brigs, bomb vessels, storeships, fireships, packets, galleys, xebecs, barks, and cutters. There is also an addendum about paddle and screw warships that were powered by a combination of sail and steam; these are not reviewed in detail. Seven appendices pertain to vessels that participated in the 1588 Felicísima Armada and the 1639 Battle of the Downs; rules governing the building of ships during the 1600s; the types and numbers of ships in various years between 1782 and 1860; expenses for the Spanish Navy in different locales (1714-1800) as well as government expenditures (1801-1860); ordnance regulations; and official officer and crew numbers aboard different types of vessels.

Although there is an index, it lists only the names of specific vessels. Black-and-white illustrations (portraits, drafts, and maps) and tables are found throughout. Technical details for the different classes of vessels and single designs are provided, as is information on the ship architects, shipwrights, and building dates if known. Significant details about individual ships are provided, as is the order of battle for major sea battles. That being said, the authors make it clear that there are gaps in the provided information. Some of this stems from a fire that swept through naval archives in 1734.

Spanish Warships is not meant to be read from cover to cover. Written by eminently qualified authors, it is a reference book that provides researchers with invaluable information that is as accurate and comprehensive as it can be. Much of the source material comes from archival primary documents. It is highly recommended and is a great companion to previous titles in the series.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/adultpirat...)




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