The technical details of British warships were recorded in a set of
plans produced by the builders on completion of every ship. Known as the
'as fitted' general arrangements, these drawings represented the exact
appearance and fitting of the ship as it entered service. Intended to
provide a permanent reference for the Admiralty and the dockyards, these
highly detailed plans were drawn with exquisite skill in multi-colored
inks and washes that represent the acme of the draughtsman's art.
Today they form part of the incomparable collection of the National
Maritime Museum at Greenwich, which is using the latest scanning
technology to make digital copies of the highest quality. This book is
one of a series based entirely on these draughts which depict famous
warships in an unprecedented degree of detail - complete sets in full
color, with many close-ups and enlargements that make every aspect clear
and comprehensible. Extensive captions point the reader to important
features to be found in the plans, and an introduction covers the
background to the design.