An excellent account of the successes and failures as navies in the late 19th century moved from the world of wooden sailing ships to the new technology of steam and iron. As the leading navy of the era, the British Royal Navy is the central player in this drama, but the book also includes how the other leading navies of the era were addressing the same problems. The author discusses how they addressed the issues of propulsion, armor, firepower, stability, habitablity, doctrine, and costs in a technological world without any precedents to guide them. In doing so, he convincingly refutes charges of incompetance leveled against the major warship designers of the era.
The years 1870-1885 have previously been neglected because they were seen as the 'dark ages of the Admiralty', but this book argues strongly that, although the problems faced were greater than in previous decades, it is actually a pivotal period in the emergence of the modern warship. In so doing, it counters the general perception that that those responsible for British design policy at the time were retrogressive, incompetent, or both. What emerges is a more complete picture of the problems - often insoluble - faced by the Admiralty during the era, and the sensible steps it took to meet them.
A major new work based largely on primary sources, it tackles a misunderstood aspect of warship history with sufficient rigour to satisfy professional historians while providing enough new detail to please the enthusiast. Because the ships are none too familiar, considerable effort has gone into the illustrations, including reproducing many of the original plans for the first time.
This copy is in Very Good condition. There is some spotting/marking of the pages and dust jacket and it is a little musty from storage. As usual, photos are of the item that you will receive.