Voiliers - USA : beaux livres - histoire, types et technique

Ships of the American Revolutionary Navy

Mark Lardas explores the origins of American warships, primarily light and medium frigates, built for the Continental Navy during the years 1776-1783.
This was the first navy of the United States and much of the fleet was comprised of ships that had been modified from existing vessels, converted into warships to provide a crucial service during the American Revolutionary War.

Despite having no real funding, this unique fleet had a surprising amount of success against the might of the Royal Navy, and this title discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each design, and the differences between European and American warships of the time.

With a close look at how these ships performed in key battles, as well as the exploits of John Paul Jones - the founding father of the United States Navy - this is a complete, illustrated overview of the ships' service and development until France's entry into the war and the subsequent decline in importance of the Continental Navy.

Bonhomme Richard vs Serapis - Flamborough Head 1779

The clash between the American Bonhomme Richard and the British HMS Serapis during the American Revolutionary War is perhaps the most famous single-ship duel in history. This epic battle between two very similar ships - and crews - off the coast of Britain in September 1779 created two naval heroes: in victory, John Paul Jones became a figure that all future American naval officers would aspire to emulate, while Richard Pearson, in defeat, became a hero to the British for a tenacious defence that allowed the merchant vessels under his protection to escape.

Featuring specially commissioned full-color artwork, this is the story of an epic maritime clash at the height of the Revolutionary War that provided a founding legend for generations of US naval officers and demonstrated the intrepidity and fighting prowess of the fledgling US Navy.

Contents: Introduction - Chronology - The Strategic Situation - Technical Specifications - The Combatants - Combat - Statistics and Analysis - Aftermath - Bibliography.

American Light and Medium Frigates 1794-1836

The 'Original Six' frigates were commissioned by the new-born US Navy at a staggering cost of nearly $700,000. Designed to be light and fast, these warships enabled America to project its power across the globe. Among the ships Mark Lardas examines is USS Constellation: the first ship to be commissioned by the United States Navy. Alongside stirring accounts of engagements during the Barbary Wars, the author explores the design and development of these frigates, explaining the shortcomings that led to their replacement by larger, heavier 44-gun models by 1800.
Packed with contemporary illustrations of US frigates and their British and French rivals, this book follows the escalation of the naval 'arms race' during the 18th century.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Operational History - The Ships - Color Plate Commentary - Index.

American Heavy Frigates 1794-1826

By 1805 the 44-gun frigate was probably viewed as a failed experiment whilst the 38-gun frigate was viewed as the vessel of the future. Ten years later every navy was building 44-gun frigates and today it is viewed as the symbol of the Napoleonic-era cruiser.
As this book describes, this remarkable transformation resulted from the performance of three ships - the Constitution, United States, and President - 44-gun frigates built for the United States Navy between 1794 and 1799. Their victories in the naval War of 1812, as well as their performance against the Barbary Pirates, caught the imagination of the world - and spurred all navies into re-examining the class.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Operation History - Later development and history - Colour plate commentary.

America Spreads Her Sails : U.S. Seapower in the 19th Century

In this paperback edition of "America Spreads Her Sails", fourteen writers and historians demonstrate how American men and goods in American-made ships moved out over Alfred Thayer Mahan's "broad common," the sea, to extend the country's commerce, power, political influence, and culture.

Capt. Thomas ap Catesby Jones, Lt. John "Mad Jack" Percival, and Comm. Matthew Calbraith Perry are among some of the colorful names that many will recognize. They are all gone now, these strong men and their stout ships, who carried their country's colors up to the Northern Lights, down to the Antarctic's stillness, over the cutting coral, across the Roaring Forties, and into the great ports and the backwaters of the world.
The results of their adventures, however, are not forgotten, but instead set the stage for America to indisputably become the dominant world power of the past century.

Constitution vs Guerriere - Frigates during the War of 1812

Famed as a classic naval duel, a one-on-one clash between two sailing frigates offered the victor immeasurable fame and glory. During the War of 1812, the Royal Navy and United States Navy squared off in four such duels, the most famous that between the USS Constitution and HMS Guerrière.
Ships and tactics between the two nations varied enormously, with the American navy favouring a revolutionary design of frigate, with twenty-four pounder guns and heavy structural timbers, while the British, used to fighting the French and Spanish navies, relied on smaller, eighteen-pounder frigates.

Through first-hand accounts of these four single-ship actions and fascinating comparisons of artillery, crew ability and tactical achievements, this book offers an unparalleled insight into the ruthless reality of frigate battles in the War of 1812.

Contents: Introduction - Chronology - Design and development - Strategic situation - Technical Specifications - Combatants - Combat - Aftermath - Bibliography.

USS Lawrence vs HMS Detroit - The War of 1812 on the Great Lakes

The most critical naval fighting during the War of 1812 took place, not on the high seas, but on the inland lakes of North America: the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
Carrying between 12 and 22 cannon, the British and American sloops-of-war were ship-rigged, brig-rigged or schooner-rigged vessels.
Lakes actions often involved two ships facing each other broadside to broadside, the best example of which was the battle of Lake Erie in 1813 where HMS Detroit led a Royal Navy squadron against the USS Lawrence-led US Navy.

Featuring full-colour artwork, this lively study investigates the prolonged struggle between British and US sloops-of-war, highlighting the differences between the war on the lakes and the war on the oceans during the Age of Fighting Sail.
It reveals the circumstances under which these ships were built, how they were armed, and the human story behind their construction and use in battle.