The period of turmoil that preceded and marked the Napoleonic era caused
an expansion in the navies of Europe and the United States. Naval
tactics were evolving too, as the old system of individual ships and
captains was replaced by true navies, governed by a hierarchy and
working together as a force. The book falls into three parts: Part One:
The Ships and the Men describes ship construction, rigging, sail plans
and rating system, life at sea, naval tactics and the balance of naval
forces from the outbreak of war in 1792. Part Two: The Engagements
describes in detail, in chronological order, the individual actions
divided into the three major wars - The War of the First Coalition
1792-1797, The War of the Second Coalition 1798-1802 and The Napoleonic
Wars 1803-1815. Part Three: The National Navies gives the strength of
fleets at various times, the organization and training of individual
navies, and also detailed descriptions of the uniforms worn at different
periods. Appendices give precise details of ship losses by the major
navies in the periods 1793-1802 and 1803-1815, a glossary of British
naval terminology and a bibliography. Detailed battle plans of major
engagements, line drawings of construction details and sixty photographs
complement this authoritative work that will appeal to all those
interested in maritime and military history.
