War at Sea in the Ironclad Age (Smithsonian History of Warfare) - Softcover

Hill, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 006089167X ISBN 13: 9780060891671

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2006

Synopsis

The nineteenth century saw several major innovations in naval warfare. Reliable steam engines made it so that ships no longer depended on the wind and could maneuver more freely. At the same time, new explosive shells were developed, replacing cannonballs, and no wooden ship could withstand them. In response to these shells, a new class of self-propelled, armored "ironclads" was invented and quickly revolutionized naval warfare.

• A comprehensive look at the makeup of these "ironclad" warships.

• A technical view of the powerful weaponry that compelled these radical innovations.

• A look at the historic battles that proved the necessity of engines and armor.

• A discussion of the new tactics employed by nineteenth-century navies and the revival of an old classic -- the "ram."

About this title

About the Author:

Richard Hill retired from the Royal Navy as a rear admiral in 1983. He has written six books on naval affairs. He is the editor of the Naval Review and chairman of the Society for Nautical Research, and was awarded the first Mountbatten Prize.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 006089167X
• ISBN 13: 9780060891671
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240