Fighting at Sea in the Eighteenth Century: The Art of Sailing WarfareOur understanding of warfare at sea in the eighteenth century has always been divorced from the practical realities of fighting at sea under sail; our knowledge of tactics is largely based upon the ideas of contemporary theorists rather than practitioners] who knew little of the realities of sailing warfare, and our knowledge of command is similarly flawed. In this book the author presents new evidence from contemporary sources that overturns many old assumptions and introduces a host of new ideas. In a series of thematic chapters, following the rough chronology of a sea fight from initial contact to damage repair, the author offers a dramatic interpretation of fighting at sea in the eighteenth century, and explains in greater depth than ever before how and why sea battles (including Trafalgar) were won and lost in the great Age of Sail. He explains in detail how two ships or fleets identified each other to be enemies; how and why they manoeuvred for battle; how a commander communicated his ideas, and how and why his subordinates acted in the way that they did. SAM WILLIS has lectured at Bristol University and at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. He is also the author of Fighting Ships, 1750-1850(Quercus). |
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Fighting at Sea in the Eighteenth Century: The Art of Sailing Warfare Sam Willis No preview available - 2023 |
Common terms and phrases
action Age of Sail Ambrose Trial Anon Anthony Gardner attack Barham Papers Barrington Papers Battle of Toulon Battle of Trafalgar Battle of Ushant Bonner-Smith broadside Byam Martin Papers Byng canvas Captain century cohesion command contemporary Corbett Court Martial crew damage deck Dillon Narrative distance doctrine Douglas engage example Fighting Instructions fire flag flagship French fleet frigates gun ports gunnery Hawke Hood hull Jamie Whyte Kempenfelt Keppel Trial Laird Clowes Laughton leeward Lestock line ahead line of battle Logs London manœuvre masts Middleton mizzen N. A. M. Rodger Naval Chronicle Naval Evolutions Naval Tactics Naval Warfare performance position practice problem rear Rear-Admiral Rodger Rodney Royal Navy sail plan sailing warfare sailing warship Seamanship ship or fleet ship's shot Signals and Instructions significant Spanish speed spritsail squadron station keeping stern tack target TNA ADM topsail Trafalgar Vernon weather weather gage wind windward yard