The Ships of Nelson's Navy - 1793-1815

This work provides a full inventory of history's greatest sailing navy at the apogee of its power and success, an era in which over 1000 vessels might be in commission at any one time.

It includes all the ships extant at the outbreak of the French Revolutionary War and every one ordered, captured, purchased or hired down to the end of the American War in 1815.

All are arranged by type and class, with specification and building data, based on the author's "Sailing Navy List", but with additional information on design, performance and career details. Background essays cover subjects such as shipbuilding policy and the roles for which specific types were intended.

There is also a survey of a number of more general topics, such as guns and gunnery, rigs and rigging, and the strategies and tactics of naval warfare in the period.

The book is also illustrated with photographs of contemporary paintings, original draughts and official models. The book features: an introduction which outlines the history of the wars, campaigns, alliances and strategies; a chronology of principal events; ship lists by type and class, with dimensions, and performance; background essays - procurement policy (which ships were built and why), employment (which types fulfilled which roles), type of naval combat (fleet, single-ship, blockade, convoy, cutting-out, amphibious, shore bombardment, unconventional warfare); guns and gunnery; and rigs and rigging.

The appendices contain statistics on the size of the navy at selected dates - commissioned, in ordinary, repairing and building station lists with flag officers.