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Cassell Military Classics: Gunboat!: Small Ships at War
Set sail for adventure on the high seas! These 13 incredible, naval engagements show how gunboats won the day. In the 19th century, when colonial powers established, ruled, and accessed their empires from the sea, gunboats secured trading conditions. Fast and maneuverable, able to navigate in shallow coastal waters, they defeated enemies large and small, including pirates, slavers, and rebels. Even in the 20th century, from Burma through two world wars and the escape down the Yangtze in 1949, these meticulously researched, dramatic sagas are mesmerizing.
Set sail for adventure on the high seas! These 13 incredible, naval engagements show how gunboats won the day. In the 19th century, when colonial powers established, ruled, and accessed their empires from the sea, gunboats secured trading conditions. Fast and maneuverable, able to navigate in shallow coastal waters, they defeated enemies large and small, including pirates, slavers, and rebels. Even in the 20th century, from Burma through two world wars and the escape down the Yangtze in 1949, these meticulously researched, dramatic sagas are mesmerizing.
Set sail for adventure on the high seas! These 13 incredible, naval engagements show how gunboats won the day. In the 19th century, when colonial powers established, ruled, and accessed their empires from the sea, gunboats secured trading conditions. Fast and maneuverable, able to navigate in shallow coastal waters, they defeated enemies large and small, including pirates, slavers, and rebels. Even in the 20th century, from Burma through two world wars and the escape down the Yangtze in 1949, these meticulously researched, dramatic sagas are mesmerizing.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Bryan Perrett
121 books21 followersBryan Perrett was born in 1934 and educated at Liverpool College. He served in the Royal Armoured Corps, the 17th/21st Lancers, Westminster Dragoons, and the Royal Tank Regiment, and was awarded the Territorial Decoration.A professional military historian for many years, his books include "A History of the Blitzkrieg" and "Knights of the Black Cross - Hitler's Panzerwaffe and its Leaders". His treatise Desert Warfare was widely consulted during the Gulf War. His most recent works, including "Last Stand, At All Costs" and "Against all Odds" examine aspects of motivation. During the Falklands and Gulf Wars Bryan Perrett served as Defense Correspondent to the Liverpool Echo. His books are widely read on both sides of the Atlantic and have been translated into several languages.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 2, 2024
During the period of the “Pax Britanica” (1815-1914) Britain’s Royal Navy was by far the most powerful naval force in the world. Whilst the focus tended to be on capital ships, there was also a need for vessels that could navigate shallow coastal waters and engage in riverine expeditions. Thus was born the gunboat, a shallow draught vessel with extremely high firepower for her size.
The book relates the role that gunboats played in some of the conflicts that took place during roughly the period 1850-1950. They were active in suppressing piracy in the East Indies and the South China Sea as well slave trading along the East African coast. In the Crimean War they were used in the shallow Sea of Azov, whilst another chapter tells of the role of gunboats in the two Sudanese expeditions of the 1880’s and 1890s. Although the book is mainly about the Royal Navy, there is also a chapter on the use of gunboats along the Mississippi during the American Civil War.
For the 20th century, the book features gunboat actions in the Mesopotamian theatre of WW1, as well as the “Battle of Lake Tanganyika”, an event I have read about in Giles Foden’s book Mimi and Toutou’s Big Adventure. For WW2, the book describes inshore actions along the North African coast, and a surprisingly bloody fight for the Allies in capturing the island of Elba, an event I had previously known nothing about. The last chapter features the dramatic escape of HMS Amethyst from communist Chinese forces in 1949, which was the subject of a 1950s British film, The Yangtse Incident. The escape of the Amethyst caused the Chinese communists considerable loss of face, but it’s also notable that this last chapter involved an escape, symbolic then of Britain’s retreat from its once dominant world position.
Being small vessels, gunboats were usually commanded by relatively junior officers. However during the 19th century, they often operated in parts of the world without quick access to communication. Their commanders were therefore expected to act on their own initiative and common sense. The author argues this tradition continued into the 20th century, with gunboat commanders often acting in the old “Hornblower” style. There are some dramatic stories in this book, which highlights a largely overlooked aspect of the history of naval warfare.
The book relates the role that gunboats played in some of the conflicts that took place during roughly the period 1850-1950. They were active in suppressing piracy in the East Indies and the South China Sea as well slave trading along the East African coast. In the Crimean War they were used in the shallow Sea of Azov, whilst another chapter tells of the role of gunboats in the two Sudanese expeditions of the 1880’s and 1890s. Although the book is mainly about the Royal Navy, there is also a chapter on the use of gunboats along the Mississippi during the American Civil War.
For the 20th century, the book features gunboat actions in the Mesopotamian theatre of WW1, as well as the “Battle of Lake Tanganyika”, an event I have read about in Giles Foden’s book Mimi and Toutou’s Big Adventure. For WW2, the book describes inshore actions along the North African coast, and a surprisingly bloody fight for the Allies in capturing the island of Elba, an event I had previously known nothing about. The last chapter features the dramatic escape of HMS Amethyst from communist Chinese forces in 1949, which was the subject of a 1950s British film, The Yangtse Incident. The escape of the Amethyst caused the Chinese communists considerable loss of face, but it’s also notable that this last chapter involved an escape, symbolic then of Britain’s retreat from its once dominant world position.
Being small vessels, gunboats were usually commanded by relatively junior officers. However during the 19th century, they often operated in parts of the world without quick access to communication. Their commanders were therefore expected to act on their own initiative and common sense. The author argues this tradition continued into the 20th century, with gunboat commanders often acting in the old “Hornblower” style. There are some dramatic stories in this book, which highlights a largely overlooked aspect of the history of naval warfare.
December 10, 2018
This book gives you exactly you would expect from the title.
It provides a short concise story of the use of gunboats from a largely forgotten type of warfare. This book falls within the definition of providing a good read.
I enjoyed it so much that I looking for another of the author's books.
It provides a short concise story of the use of gunboats from a largely forgotten type of warfare. This book falls within the definition of providing a good read.
I enjoyed it so much that I looking for another of the author's books.
July 14, 2017
Thoroughly Captivating
This was excellent value for money, and proved immensely interesting to read of the use of gunboats down the years, and surprising how successful they had been. Recommended.
This was excellent value for money, and proved immensely interesting to read of the use of gunboats down the years, and surprising how successful they had been. Recommended.
March 7, 2025
Very enjoyable collection of anecdotal stories about gunboats. Good read, and a book I'll keep in my library for occasional re-reading
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews