British Warships in the Age of Sail
Encyclopedia
British Warships in the Age of Sail is a series of books by maritime historian Rif Winfield comprising a historical reference work providing details of all recorded ships in commission or intended to serve in the Royal Navy
from 1603 to 1817.
official records to give details on the location of construction, dates of construction (ordering, keel
laying, launch
, commissioning
and completion of fitting-out), principal dimensions and tonnage, complement of men and armament, machinery (for steam vessels) and fate of every ship of the Royal Navy over the period. Designed dimensions and tonnage are given for every class of vessel planned and built for the Navy, but in addition the actual dimensions measured for each individual vessel completed to those designs are separately given; this treatment has also been applied to the many vessels purchased or captured by British naval forces, and added to the service. The costs of building and fitting out each vessel are given (where known), as well as the costs and dates of major refits during each ship's life. Also included are details of their commanders with dates when each served, areas and periods of service, and significant actions in which the ships took part.
Each volume contains details of over two thousand separate vessels, and is illustrated by approximately two hundred black-and-white renditions of the design draughts, contemporary portrayals and other depictions of most classes of vessel covered.
Sailing warships after 1817 are covered by The Sail and Steam Navy List
, 1815-1889, by David Lyon and Rif Winfield.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
from 1603 to 1817.
Scope
The books draw data from AdmiraltyAdmiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
official records to give details on the location of construction, dates of construction (ordering, keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
laying, launch
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
, commissioning
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
and completion of fitting-out), principal dimensions and tonnage, complement of men and armament, machinery (for steam vessels) and fate of every ship of the Royal Navy over the period. Designed dimensions and tonnage are given for every class of vessel planned and built for the Navy, but in addition the actual dimensions measured for each individual vessel completed to those designs are separately given; this treatment has also been applied to the many vessels purchased or captured by British naval forces, and added to the service. The costs of building and fitting out each vessel are given (where known), as well as the costs and dates of major refits during each ship's life. Also included are details of their commanders with dates when each served, areas and periods of service, and significant actions in which the ships took part.
Each volume contains details of over two thousand separate vessels, and is illustrated by approximately two hundred black-and-white renditions of the design draughts, contemporary portrayals and other depictions of most classes of vessel covered.
Series
The series currently comprises three books. The first of the series to be produced, the 1793-1817 volume, was first published in 2005 by Chatham Publishing. The remaining titles, and an updated edition of the 1793-1817 volume, have been published by Seaforth Publishing:- British Warships in the Age of Sail 1603-1714: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (2009) ISBN 978-1-84832-040-6.
- British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1792: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (2007) ISBN 978-1-84415-700-6.
- British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793-1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates (2005. Second edition in 2008) ISBN 978-1-84415-717-4.
Sailing warships after 1817 are covered by The Sail and Steam Navy List
The Sail and Steam Navy List
The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889 by Rif Winfield and David Lyon is a historical reference work providing details of all recorded ships in commission or intended to serve in the Royal Navy from 1815 to 1889...
, 1815-1889, by David Lyon and Rif Winfield.
Reception
Reviewing the 1793-1817 work, the Journal for Maritime Research wrote that 'It is well-researched, well-presented, easy to navigate and exhaustive in its coverage. It is a reference work that will be used by students and scholars of the sailing Navy for years to come.' When reviewing the 1714-1792 volume, the second work to be published, the South West Maritime History Society described it as 'frankly quite superb', and 'the most complete analysis of the ships of the Royal Navy ever prepared.'See also
- The Sail and Steam Navy ListThe Sail and Steam Navy ListThe Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815–1889 by Rif Winfield and David Lyon is a historical reference work providing details of all recorded ships in commission or intended to serve in the Royal Navy from 1815 to 1889...
, 1815-1889 - similar reference work by David Lyon and Rif Winfield that covered the post-Napoleonic period - Ships of the Royal NavyShips of the Royal NavyShips of the Royal Navy is a naval history reference work by J. J. Colledge ; it provides brief entries on all recorded ships in commission in the British Royal Navy from the 15th century, giving location of constructions, date of launch, tonnage, specification and fate.It was published in two...
- directory of all Royal Navy ships by J. J. ColledgeJ. J. ColledgeJames Joseph Colledge was a British naval historian, author of Ships of the Royal Navy, the standard work on the fighting ships of the British Royal Navy from the 15th century to the 20th century.... - The Sailing Navy List - by David Lyon