FRIGATES OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS

For every naval officer the frigate was the ideal and much sought-after command. As dashing as a modern destroyer, the frigate offered the excitement of independent service, with the prospect of a glorious single-ship battle for a fortune to be made in prise money. Their actions have been the stuff of history and sea fiction for generations, but this is the first to describe the design, construction, armament and fitting of individual classes, to look at the factors influencing their development, and to analyse the many roles they were expected to perform. Backing the main narrative are detailed tabular data on all classes, including the prises captured from opposing navies, with comparative information on aspects like performance under sail. With the information provided here, for the first time readers can now discover not only which were the most highly regarded frigates in the fleet, but also why. "A rich and innovative book" - "Lloyd's List