The 50-Gun Ship: A Complete History

by Rif Winfield

By the end of the sailing era the 50-gun ship had come to be regarded as a hybrid--too small to stand in the line of battle, but lacking the speed and handiness of the frigate--so was often dismissed as a naval architectural dinosaur left over from an earlier age. This prejudiced view has gone unchallenged in modern naval history, but this new book reveals the crucial role of the 50-gun ship in the development of both the battleship and the frigate, and explains the enduring role which ensured the survival of the type into the nineteenth century. True to the intentions of the ‘ShipShape’ series, it is the first extended study of a type which is both technically interesting and historically undervalued.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Mr. Reader Eric Mesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating. The details can get a little muddy, but patience will be rewarded. There are a number of instructive line-drawings, and the book includes a number of illustrations of the HMS Leopard, drawn by John McKay.

The average reader may not find it very interesting, but it is indispensable to anyone interested in naval warfare in the Age of Sail. The history is a bit dull, but descriptions of particulars in the career of a Fourth Rate, such as living quarters, stores, and armament, really make the reality of these behemoths from a bygone age vivid. And if nothing else, one can appreciate the beauty of form and almost poetic dance of oak, canvas, cordage, and iron that make up a sailing man-of-war.

[Vicarage]

Two copies