Ships and boats: general interest Books

Book SynopsisAn illustrated history of the Holland America Line and its postwar fleet.

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Book SynopsisThe narrowboats built for transporting cargo on Britainâs canals are one of the great symbols of Britain. This highly illustrated book explores their history and development, and what it was like to crew a working vessel.

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Book SynopsisThe first book to provide an overview of all of Brunelâs vessels, richly illustrated, and endorsed by the SS Great Britain Trust.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating look at the history behind battleships and battle cruisers, from the groundbreaking HMS Dreadnought through to the last Royal Navy battleship, Vanguard.

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Book SynopsisA complete illustrated study of the German Kriegsmarine throughout World War II.Hamstrung at first by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, during the 1930s, the German Navy underwent a program of rearmament in defiance of the restrictions, building modern warships under limitations which forced technological innovation. Submarines were strictly prohibited by the treaty, and yet, following years of covert development, they became one of the Kriegsmarine''s most deadly weapons. Blooded in the Spanish Civil War, the surface ships of the Kriegsmarine went on to play a crucial role in the opening salvoes of World War II during the invasions of Poland and Norway, although serious losses here set back plans for the invasion of Britain, and by the end of the war, only a handful of surface vessels remained to be divided up among the Allies. From the beginning of the war, but especially after the fall of France, the dreaded and extraordinarily successful U-boats stalkTrade ReviewLavishly illustrated, packed with facts, figures, and historical narration, this book is a superb reference work for historians of World War II naval history. * The Naval Review *With superb production standards and plenty of contemporary photos, this is an excellent guide to the Kriegsmarine in WWII. * The Armourer *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KRIEGSMARINE Strategy and Doctrine CHAPTER ONE OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW 1939 The Polish Campaign Commerce Raiding 1940 Denmark and Norway Commerce Raiding 1941 Battle of the Denmark Strait The Sinking of the Bismarck E-boats and U-boats 1942 The Channel Dash Operation Rösselsprung Battle of the Barents Sea 1943 Battle of the North Cape The Last Capital Ship: Tirpitz 1944–45 The Sinking of Tirpitz CHAPTER TWO HITLER’S SHIPS Capital Ships Pre-Dreadnoughts The Scharnhorst Class The Bismarck Class Cruisers The Deutschland Class The Admiral Hipper Class Light Cruisers Auxiliary Cruisers Destroyers Aircraft Carriers U-Boats CHAPTER THREE COASTAL AND MISCELLANEOUS VESSELS E-boats The Security Branch (Sicherungsverbände) Minesweepers (Minensuchboote) Outpost or Patrol Boats (Vorpostenboote) Sub-Chasers (U-Jagd Boote) General-Purpose Boats (Mehrzweckboote) Barrier-Breakers (Sperrbrecher) Escort Boats (Geleitboote) Torpedo Boats Fleet Auxiliary Supply Ships (Tross-Schiffe) Tenders/Escorts Miscellaneous Vessels Accommodation Ships (Wohnschiffe) Miscellaneous Vessels Kleinkampfverbände der Kriegsmarine CHAPTER FOUR SERVICE IN HITLER’S NAVY Seamen, NCOs and Officers Other Service Roles CONCLUSION FURTHER READING GERMAN NAVAL RANKS AND EQUIVALENTS INDEX

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Book SynopsisExplores the history of the US Navy''s 11 new steel warships, built during the late 19th century to advance American naval supremacy.After the American Civil War, the powerful US Navy was allowed to decay into utter decrepitude, and was becoming a security liability. In 1883, Congress approved four new steel-constructed vessels called the ABCD ships. The three protected cruisers Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago were the first steel warships built for the US Navy, whose 1880s1890s technological and cultural transformation was so total it is now remembered as the New Navy. This small fleet was joined by a succession of new and distinctive protected cruisers, culminating in the famous and powerful Olympia. These 11 protected cruisers formed the backbone of the early US steel navy, and were in the frontline of the US victory in the 1898 Spanish-American War. It was these warships that fought and won the decisive Battle of Manila Bay. These cruisersTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT USN protected cruiser hull numbers, classification and renamings DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Propulsion Protection Weapons THE ABC CRUISERS 1886–89 Atlanta-class (1886) USS Chicago (1889) SECOND-GENERATION CRUISERS 1889–91 USS Newark C-1 (1891) USS Charleston C-2 (1889) USS Baltimore C-3 (1890) USS Philadelphia C-4 (1890) USS San Francisco C-5 (1890) FAST CRUISERS 1894–95 USS Olympia C-6 (1895) Columbia-class (1894) OPERATIONAL HISTORY The Squadron of Evolution The Spanish–American War, 1898 Actions in the Atlantic and Caribbean Final operations 1899–1923 The preserved Olympia CONCLUSION SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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Book SynopsisA revelatory and wide-ranging exploration of HMS Britannic--her life at sea and on the seabed--by the owner of her wreck. Launched in 1914, two years after the ill-fated voyage of her sister ship, RMS Titanic, the Britannic was intended to be superior to her tragic twin in every way. But war intervened and in 1915 she was requisitioned as a hospital ship. Just one year later, while on her way to collect troops wounded in the Balkans campaign, she fell victim to a mine laid by a German U-boat and tragically sank in the middle of the Aegean Sea.There her wreck lay, at a depth of 400 feet, until it was discovered 59 years later by legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau. In 1996 the wreck was bought by the author of this book, Simon Mills.Exploring the Britannic tells the complete story of this enigmatic ship: her construction, launch and life, her fateful last voyage, and the historical findings resulting from the exploration of tTrade ReviewLavishly illustrated...harrowingly honest, Exploring the Britannic is a beautiful and often moving reflection on history, warfare, undersea exploration, friendship, courage and tragedy. * The Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThis is a companion volume to Friedman s highly successful _British Battleship 1906 1946_ and completes his study of the Royal Navy s capital ships. Beginning with the earliest installation of steam machinery in ships of the line, the book traces the technological revolution that saw the introduction of iron hulls, armour plate, shell-firing guns and the eventual abandonment of sail as auxiliary propulsion. This hectic development finally settled down to a widely approved form of pre-dreadnought battleship, built in large numbers and culminating in the _King Edward VII_ class. As with all of his work, Friedman is concerned to explain why as well as how and when these advances were made, and locates British ship design firmly within the larger context of international rivalries, domestic politics and economic constraints. The result is a sophisticated and enlightening overview of the Royal Navy s battle fleet in the latter half of the nineteenth century. It is also well illustrated a comprehensive gallery of photographs with in-depth captions is accompanied by specially commissioned plans of the important classes by A D Baker III, and a colour section featuring the original Admiralty draughts, including a spectacular double gatefold. Norman Friedman is one of the most highly regarded of all naval writers, with an avid following, so for anyone with an interest in warships, the publication of this work will be a major event.

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Book Synopsis2019 marks the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Lancaster Canal from Wigan to Kendal. Designed by the celebrated engineer John Rennie, it is notable for a large number of aqueducts, including the magnificent Lune Aqueduct at Lancaster. A large aqueduct across the Ribble Valley at Preston was never built, leaving the canal in two sections connected by a temporary horse tramroad which became permanent. Consequently the 57 miles from Preston to Kendal remained isolated until 2006, when it was connected to the main network via the Ribble estuary. Before the railways were built the canal was unique in running a highly efficient passenger service and for several years actually took over a main line railway company. In 1947 the final 15 miles to Kendal were closed and partly drained. The author was an early member of the Lancaster Canal Trust in 1963, which is now at the forefront of a campaign to re-open the closed section. This book examines the history of the waterway, its powerful effect on the 18-19th century economy of north Lancashire and south Cumbria, the canal as it is today and the efforts being made to restore it to navigation throughout.

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Book SynopsisThe Ouse reaches into the heart of Yorkshire from the Humber Estuary. Until the 1980s, loaded barges made the challenging journey from Hull to Selby, bearing bulk cargoes for the mills of the town. The bargees had to be tough and resourceful; physically strong enough to handle their craft, wise enough to combat the rivers shifting currents and savvy enough to deal with those supplying short measure. Laurie Dews of Selby worked the Ouse from 1937 to 1987, and is now the only ,man remaining with first-hand experience of a lost way of life. In this book, "River Ouse Bargeman", Lauries words of wit and wisdom give a skippers eye view of a barge loaded to the gunwales fighting upstream, unloading at the mill and drifting back with the tide. Laurie spins many a yarn about a bargemans social life, too. His first-hand account includes the mysterious river crafts of singling out and penning up, the tricks and tell tales to show where the ever-shifting river channel lay and the camaraderie of life in the close-knit watery world. In this book, alongside Lauries account, there is a factual commentary, illustrated by many images from Lauries collection dating back over a century, and extracts from official documents and maps.

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Book SynopsisCruisers probably vary more in their characteristics than any other warship type and have certainly been subject to the most convoluted development. There was always a basic tension between quantity and quality, between numbers and unit size, but at a more detailed level every one of the naval powers made different demands of their cruiser designers. This makes the story of cruiser evolution in the world's major navies fascinating but complex. This book sets out to provide a coherent history of the fortunes of this ship-type in the twentieth century, beginning with a brief summary of development before the First World War and an account of a few notable cruiser actions during that conflict that helped define what cruisers would look like in the post-war world. The core of the book is devoted to the impact of the naval disarmament treaty process, which concentrated to a great extent on attempting to define limits to the numbers and size of cruisers that could be built, in the process creating the treaty cruiser' as a type that had never existed before and that existed solely because of the treaty process. How the cruisers of the treaty era performed in the Second world War forms the final focus of the book, which concludes with a look at the fate of the cruiser-type since 1945. The result is probably the best single-volume account of the subject to date.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive history of the Cape Island–type longliner, a vessel unique to Nova Scotia that helped save its coastal fishery from collapse.During the first half of the twentieth century, economic recession, a lack of government support, and the incursion of large draggers on coastal fishing grounds meant many inshore fishing communities were facing poverty and starvation. The formation of fishers' cooperatives started a movement toward recovery, and the introduction of the internal combustion engine along with the development of a new medium-sized fishing vessel equipped with mechanical haulers meant groundfishers who had previously employed handlines from small boats with a single hook could now haul multiple trawl lines from a single vessel.The development of the "government approved" Cape Island–type longliner was perhaps one the most significant achievements in the survival of Nova Scotia's struggling inshore fishery. Sadly, this important history has gone largely unrecorded. With the help of in-depth archival research and more than thirty little-known historical photographs, Building a Better Boat chronicles the history of the recovery of the shore fishery and the development of a new fishing craft known as wooden Cape Island–type longliners. It is a story that needs to be told, if for no other reason than to honour the brave fishing families who persevered through poverty and hunger and who, despite all odds, developed a vessel that would help them secure their own futures and that of future generations.

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Book SynopsisPeople are drawn to the harbours and boats of Scotland whether they have a seafaring background or not. Why do boats take on different shapes as you follow the complex shorelines of islands and mainland? And why do the sails they carry appear to be so many shapes and sizes? Then there are rowing craft or power-driven vessels which can also be considered ‘classics’, whether they were built for work or leisure. As he traces the iconic forms of a selection of the boats of Scotland, Ian Stephen outlines the purposes of craft, past and present, to help gain a true understanding of this vital part of our culture. Sea conditions likely to be met and coastal geography are other factors behind the designs of a wide variety of craft. Stories go with boats. The vessels are not seen as bare artefacts without their own soul but more like living things. 'A writer uniquely attuned to the water, and to the relationships each boat shares with the places it shaped, his stories restore past sea roads and river routes to life' - David Gange, author of The Frayed Atlantic EdgeTrade Review'Wonderful... a rich compendium of the Scottish engagement with the sea' -- Adam Nicolson, author of Life Between the Tides'The small boats that made Scottish history have never seemed so charismatic and characterful as in Ian Stephen’s gorgeous, vivid prose. A writer uniquely attuned to the water, and to the relationships each boat shares with the places it shaped, his stories restore past sea roads and river routes to life' -- David Gange, author of The Frayed Atlantic Edge'[Boatlines] tells of the compelling bonds between humans and nature, along with copious anecdotes about the vessels, who built them, sailed in them, and the communities they served... an evocative love letter to the sea' -- Neil Drysdale * Press and Journal *'A magisterial flight across 30 or 40 different vernacular vessels... it is fascinating' * West Highland Free Press *'Ian Stephen's fascinating new book explores Scotland's deep relationship with boats, the talented people who built them and the many communities that still depend on them' * The Herald *'A wonderful book about...the small boats that do so much to give individual stretches of the coastline of Scotland such distinctive characters' -- Ken Lussey * Undiscovered Scotland *'Although there's an incredible density of nautical information, Stephen also packs in anecdotes and has a light writing style' * Scottish Field *'A sensitively written account of sailors' lore to vicariously share the pleasures of life afloat... absorbing and leaves you wanting more' -- Frank Rennie * Stornoway Gazette *'carefully researched and there are a selection of nice pencil drawings which make for a pleasing read' * Sailing Today *'Stephen, through his wonderful use of prose, allows us to experience the culture of these coastal and canal communities which followed a natural rhythm governed by the seasons, the weather, and the tides' -- Marc Chivers * Mariner's Mirror *

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Book SynopsisThe period from the end of the Second World War to the late 1960s marked a golden era for the traditional port-to-port class-divided passenger ship business. It was an age of re-awakening, with the wealthy and adventurous seeking new experiences abroad and countless migrants wanting to leave war-shattered Europe for new lives and opportunities overseas. On the liners, everyone was catered for: from passengers such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, who required suites of luxurious rooms with space to unpack over a hundred pieces of luggage, to penniless migrants carrying nothing more than an overnight bag, for whom a berth in a fifty-bed dormitory was all that was needed. Atlantic crossings were popular throughout the period, but there were also three- and four-class ships to South America, combination passenger-cargo services carrying only 100 or so travelers, fast mail ships to South Africa, colonial passenger vessels to East Africa, crowded migrant sailings to Sydney and Auckland, and trans-Suez and trans-Pacific passages. This was an era when long-distance travel was entirely dependent on the ocean liners. Post-War on the Liners examines, through fascinating anecdotes and detailed research, the many passenger ship services of this bygone era, recapturing the charm, practicality, and importance of post-war sea travel. From the magnificent-Cunarders Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, Italian Line's Augustus, Union-Castle's Bloemfontein Castle, P&O's Oronsay, and Shaw Savill's Southern Cross-to the lesser known-Fyffes Line's Golfito, Royal Mail's Amazon, Sitmar Line's Fairsea, and NYK Line's Hikawa Maru-this book reveals the unique qualities of individual ships and why they were so often regarded with affection by the men and women who travelled and served on them.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the Great Liners begins on the Atlantic route between the Old World and the New, between Europe and the United States. It was the most prestigious, most progressive and certainly most competitive ocean liner run of all time. It was on the North Atlantic that the largest, fastest and indeed grandest passenger ships were created. In this book, William Miller concentrates for the most part on these Atlantic superliners. It has been a race, sometimes fierce, that has continued for well over a century. Smaller passenger ships, even ones of 30,000 and 40,000 tons, are for the most part left to other books. The story begins even earlier, in 1889, when Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II visited his grandmother, Queen Victoria, and attended the British Naval Review at Spithead. The British were more than pleased to show off not only the mightiest naval vessels afloat, but the biggest passenger ships then afloat, namely the 10,000-ton 'Teutonic' of the White Star Line. These ships caught the Kaiser's royal eye. His enthusiasm, his determination and, assuredly, his jealousies were aroused. Her returned to his homeland determined that Germany should have bigger and better ships.The world must know, he theorized, that Imperial Germany had reached new and higher technological heights. To the Kaiser and other envious Germans, the British had, quite simply, had a monopoly on the biggest ships long enough. British engineers and even shipyard crews were recruited, teaching German shipbuilders the key components of a new generation of larger ships. Shipyards at Bremen, Hamburg and Stettin were soon ready. It would all take eight years, however, before the first big German liner would be completed. She would be large enough and fast enough to be dubbed the world's first "super liner". She would only be the biggest vessel built in Germany, but the biggest afloat. The nation's most prominent shipowners, the Hamburg America Line and the North German Lloyd, were both deeply interested. It was the Lloyd, however, which rose first to the occasion. Enthusiastically and optimistically, the first ship was the first of a successive quartet. The illustrious Vulkan Shipyard at Stettin was given the prized contract. Triumph seemed to be in the air! The Kaiser himself went to the launching, on 3 May 1897, of this new Imperial flagship.Designed with four funnels but grouped in pairs, the 655-ft long ship was named 'Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse', honoring the Emperor's grandfather. With the rattle of chains, the release of the building blocks and then the tumultuous roar as the unfinished hull hit the water, this launching was the beginning of the Atlantic race for supremacy, which would last for some 70 years. Only after the first arrival of the trans-Atlantic jet in October 1958 would the race quiet down. The 'Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse' was the great beginning, the start of a superb fleet of what has been dubbed "ocean greyhounds" and later aptly called the "floating palaces". Worried and cautious, the normally contented British referred to the brand new Kaiser as a "German monster".

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Book Synopsis'Transatlantic Liners 1950-1970' is a glorious reference of a grand but bygone age to those passenger ships, large and small, that crossed the Atlantic. There were the likes of the 'Queen Mary' and 'Queen Elizabeth', 'SS United States', 'Caronia', 'Andrea Doria' but also smaller, less memorable ships such as the 'Noordam', 'Paryhia' and 'Laurentia'. The ships, over 150 of them, are grouped by owner--from the short-lived American Banner Line to Israel's Zim Lines. Each ship is given a full, detailed reference: details (routing, length, tonnage, builder, speed, passengers carried, etc.) as well as a full chronology of the vessel's career including it's ultimate disposition and fate. Overall, it will be an extensive reference work. And altogether, it will be a revival of an all-star maritime cast!Table of ContentsForeword; Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1 American Banner Lines; 2 American Export Lines; 3 American President Lines; 4 Arosa Line; 5 Baltic Steamship Co; 6 Canadian Pacific Steamships; 7 Chandris Lines; 8 Cogedar Line; 9 Companhia Colonial; 10 Costa Line; 11 Cunard Line; 12 Donaldson Line; 13 Dutch World Services; 14 East Asiatic Co; 15 Europe-Canada Line; 16 French Line; 17 Furness-Warren Line; 18 German Atlantic Line; 19 Greek Line; 20 Grimaldi-Siosa Lines; 21 Hamburg-Atlantic Line; 22 Holland-America Line; 23 Home Lines; 24 Incres Line; 25 International Catholic Travel Committee; 26 Italian Line; 27 Jugolinija; 28 Khedivial Mail Line; 29 Lauro Line; 30 National Hellenic American Line; 31 Netherlands Government; 32 New Zealand Shipping Co; 33 North German Lloyd; 34 Norwegian America Line; 35 Oranje Line; 36 P&O-Orient Lines; 37 Polish Ocean Lines; 38 Shaw Savill Line; 39 Sitmar Line; 40 Spanish Line; 41 Splosna Plovba; 42 Sven Salen/Salen Line; 43 Swedish American Line; 44 Turkish Maritime Lines; 45 United Arab Maritime Co; 46 United States Lines; 47 Zim Lines; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisOcean liners conjure up an instant image of luxury. The great salons and smoking room, the suites, the staterooms and even the indoor swimming pools. This book will look at a century or so of the decor of ocean liners. It begins with the likes of the 'Mauretania', commissioned in 1907, and shows the Edwardian flourish and finery-the palm court days. We move into the 1920s & '30s, to Art Nouveau, German Bauhaus and of course the high glamour of Art Deco. Ships include the 'Paris', the innovative 'Ile de France', the 'Bremen' and the stunning 'Normandie' and 'Queen Mary'. Then there is post-war moderne, 'mid century' as it is dubbed today, and finally the contemporary of the current cruise generation-the floating resorts.Table of ContentsForeword; Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1 1900-10: Potted Palms in the Smoking Room; 2 1910-20: The Floating Palaces; 3 1920-30: The Longest Gangway to Europe; 4 1930-40: Cole Porter Music & the Smell of Expensive French Perfume; 5 1940-50: Drinks in the Bar After Dinner; 6 1950-60: Air-Conditioning, Lido Decks and $20-a-Day to Europe; 7 1960-70: Last of a Kind; 8 1970-Beyond: Floating Hotels & The Moving Resorts; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisOut of the Depths explores all aspects of shipwrecks across 4,000 years, examining their historical context and significance, and showing how shipwrecks can be time capsules, shedding new light on long-departed societies and civilizations. Alan G. Jamieson not only informs readers of the technological developments over the last sixty years that have made the true appreciation of shipwrecks possible, but covers shipwrecks in culture, maritime archaeology, treasure hunters and their environmental impacts. Although shipwrecks have become less common in recent decades, their implications have become more wide-ranging: since the 1960s, foundering supertankers have caused massive environmental disasters, and in 2021 the blocking of the Suez Canal by the giant container ship Ever Given had a serious impact on global trade.

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Book SynopsisThe X- and XE-Class submarines were conceived during the Second World War: around 51ft (16m) long, they were designed to be towed by a ‘mother’ submarine and use their small size to complete stealth missions, such as attacking harbours and performing reconnaissance. Although they would not begin active service until 1942, the submarine crews achieved quite the record, racking up 167 honours between them, including four Victoria Crosses.Written by ex-submariner Keith Hall, X3 to X54 is a look at the entire life and evolution of the British midget submarine, from its early prototypes to its final journeys. With a wealth of imagery, including archive X-craft photographs as well as up-to-date views of the X51 (HMS Stickleback) from the Scottish Submarine Centre, this is the fascinating, yet little-known, story of Britain’s midget submarines.

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Book SynopsisOn 9 May 1912 the first airplane take-off from a ship was made from the deck of the HMS Hibernia. In July 1918, seven Sopwith Camels launched from the converted battlecruiser HMS Furious damaged the German airbase at Tønder and destroyed two zeppelins. The age of the carrier was born. In the interwar years the Lexington, Akagi and Courageous – class carriers were developed, but it was only during World War II that the aircraft carrier finally came into its own. Fleet carriers carrying 30–40 aircraft allowed the Japanese and US navies to project air power across the vast Pacific Ocean, with the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor presaging a new kind of warfare. With the sinking of hundreds of ships during World War II, including the German battleship Bismarck in 1941, by the end of the war carriers ruled the waves and the era of the battleship had passed. Aircraft Carriers features 52 of the most significant flat tops and amphibious assault ships built since the 1920s until the present day, from the USS Yorktown, which survived direct hits during the battle of Midway (1942), through the Falklands War veteran HMS Invincible, to the mighty Nimitz class, the core of the US Navy’s carrier battle groups today. Also included are significant amphibious assault ships, such as the USS Tarawa and French Mistral. Each entry includes a brief description of the ship’s development and history, a colour profile view or cutaway, key features and specifications. Packed with more than 200 artworks and photographs, Aircraft Carriers is a colourful guide for the naval warfare enthusiast.Table of ContentsIntroduction CARRIERS OF THE WORLD WARS HMS Furious (1917) HMS Argus (1918) HMS Eagle (1924) Akagi (1927) USS Lexington (1927) Kaga (1928) HMS Glorious (1930) Hiryu (1937) USS Yorktown (1937) USS Enterprise (1938) HMS Ark Royal (1938) USS Wasp (1940) CAM and MAC Ships (1941) HMS Audacity (1941) Shokaku (1941) HMS Indomitable (1941) USS Sangamon (1942) Jun’yo (1942) USS Independence (1943) USS Princeton (1943) USS Lexington (1943) USS Intrepid (1943) USS Wasp (1943) Taiho (1944) Shinano (1944) USS Midway (1945) CARRIERS SINCE 1945 HMS Eagle (1951) USS Forrestal (1955) HMS Hermes/INS Viraat (1959) Clemenceau (1960) USS Enterprise (1961) HMS Fearless (1965) Veinticinco de Mayo (1969) USS Nimitz (1975) Kiev (1975) USS Tarawa (1976) Ivan Rogov (1978) HMS Invincible (1980) USS Carl Vinson (1982) Giuseppi Garibaldi (1985) Principe de Asturias (1988) Admiral Kuznetsov (1995) HMS Ocean (1998) Charles de Gaulle (2001) USS Ronald R. Reagan (2003) Mistral (2006) Liaoning (2012) HMAS Canberra (2014) Izumo (2015) HMS Queen Elizabeth (2017) USS Gerald R. Ford (2017) INS Vikrant (2018) Index

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Book Synopsis`I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve.’ George Bernard Shaw Since ancient times, long before GPS, radio transmission or radar, lighthouses have served as beacons helping ships to navigate Ireland’s sometimes treacherous waters. The earliest lights were simply bonfires built on hillsides; in the fifth century, St Dúbhan established a brazier of burning wood or turf on the headland of Hy Kinsellagh (now known as Hook Head). Today, despite technological advances, these coastal icons continue to serve as crucial navigational aids for the maritime traffic of our island nation, from the smallest leisure crafts to cargo ships and trawlers. By day, they mark the way with their instantly recognisable appearances; at night, by the character of their signals. One flash every two seconds tells a sailor that they are near Valentia Island off the coast of Kerry. Four flashes every twenty seconds means that they are further north, approaching Loop Head in County Clare. As well as representing a unique part of our maritime history and built heritage, lighthouses are a powerful symbol of strength and resilience in times of darkness. This evokes an irresistible fascination with them in many people. Artist Roger O’Reilly grew up near the Boyne Estuary lighthouse in County Meath and ever since has associated a sense of peace and reassurance with the warm glow of lighthouse beacons. He has spent two years criss-crossing the country to draw dramatic portraits of these sentinels of our shores. Gathered in this extraordinary collection, each beloved landmark is accompanied by a wealth of practical and insightful information: history, location, elevation, signal and range. This spectacularly illustrated celebration of these architectural gems will be treasured by anyone who finds comfort, intrigue or excitement in the glimmer of a lighthouse through the darkness.

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Book SynopsisThis entertaining andinformative book will be of practical benefit to all who discover the historicUnion Canal and the Forth & Clyde Canal, whether walking, cycling, boatingor visiting the Falkirk Wheel or the Kelpies in Scotland. CanalsAcross Scotland provides detailed towpath information, suggests what tosee and do along the way and in the towns passed. The book is full offascinating historical background, knowledgeable descriptions, practicalinformation, good stories and is beautifully illustrated. Side trips to theAntonine Wall, which stretches from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde, countryparks or to towns like Linlithgow, Falkirk, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch, often bycircular walks, are also described. The canals are forleisurely, timeless exploring during any season and this updated guide will bean essential companion. Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONETrade Review'...a useful guide...but it's also an enjoyable read. ...the author entertains readers with fascinating snippets of local history... The 2015 edition brings the story up to date'. Canal Boat -------------------- 'One of the great strengths of the book is that eight of these chapters explore the towns, countryside and Antonine Wall along the route of the canals. ... Hamish gives us many insights into local heritage'. Canal News -------------------- 'This excellent book, written passionately, entertainingly and informatively by Scottish canals expert, Hamish Brown, is a must for visitors to the Union and Forth and Clyde Canals. ...a very readable and lively text which captures the atmosphere of the canals perfectly...' Towpath Talk -------------------- '...an easy read... It is beautiful illustrated with both modern and historical photos, with appendices offering practical information. ...is also well suited for boaters wanting to explore away from tiller'. Waterways World -------------------- '...this welcome book brings it all up to date'. Canoeist -------------------- '...this excellent guidebook will be invaluable to canal users'. People's Friend ------------------- '...a perfect companion to the canals, allowing visits to be planned and to be enjoyed to the full. ...the book is full of fascinating historical background, descriptions, stories, and practical information. It is copiously and beautifully illustrated... an ideal book for anyone who likes their walks (or cycle rides) flat rather than hilly!' Undiscovered Scotland

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Book SynopsisThis book recounts the efforts over many years to dive wrecks that contained treasure in one form or another. The often prolonged and sometimes dangerous expeditions tell of dives to many ships that were wrecked while carrying tons of gold or other valuables. Many of the wrecks came to lie at great depths which demanded considerable diving expertise using rebreathers which allowed longer dives to be performed.The authors are both diving experts and in addition to the accounts and historical pictures they have added their own photography to convey to the reader the challenges of the dives undertaken. The technical demands were considerable, from adjusting the camera housing to accommodate the depth to diving at particular times of the year because many of the wrecks were situated in areas of high seas and extreme currents. Many of these wrecks have been the subject of concerted efforts from salvage teams but success could never be assumed.It took several years to visit and photograph the wrecks mentioned in the book which provides a fascinating account of the vessels and their treasure, and the challenges of diving in what can be a dangerous environment. Each entry provides details and a brief history of the vessel and the means of its demise, enhanced by a modern diving account with photographs. As such the book will be of great interest to all divers whether active or armchair, and to anyone with an interest in maritime/military history.Trade Review`This book is a must for your collection’. SubSea -------------------- `...each of the individual stories are brief but well written...there was plenty of detail on the ships and their fate. I particularly liked that the authors have dived many of the wrecks... ...very good illustrations and some remarkably good underwater pictures taken in very poor conditions in the North Sea. I really enjoyed this book which will appeal to all you wreck hunters out there...' Scottish Diver -------------------- BOOK OF THE MONTH! - `The photographs are really engaging and really give a sense to what it must have been like exploring these wrecks that lie on the ocean floor. A thoroughly enjoyable book written and compiled by two authors who, as technical CCR divers and photographers, clearly know their subject. Highly recommended'. Sea Breezes -------------------- `This is a well put together book backed up with good photographs and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in this area'. Shipping Today & Yesterday -------------------- `...will appeal to all those who venture into Neptune's underwater realm, whether active or armchair, and to anyone with an interest in maritime/,military history'. Bosun's Chronicle -------------------- `...This is a well put together book backed up with good photographs and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in this area'. Shipping Today & Yesterday -------------------- `...provides histories of a good range of sunken ships from the 19th and 20th centuries, and has high-quality illustrations throughout ... it's an attractive publication and an easy read'. Nautilusint.org

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Book SynopsisThomas Telford was arguably the greatest civil engineer Britain has ever produced. This book reveals his humble beginnings and then describes his self-propelled rise from journeyman stonemason to famous canal engineer. In 1793 Telford was appointed principal engineer on the Ellesmere Canal (now the Llangollen Canal) in North Wales. An 11-mile section of the canal, including his magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, has recently been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, putting it in the company of such international icons as the Taj Mahal, the Statue of Liberty, and the Tower of London. Completed in 1805, the aqueduct represented a stupendous advance in civil engineering; but it was designed for canal boats and tucked away in a relatively unfrequented valley. Following a rapturous opening ceremony and initial commercial success, a decline of the canal system from about 1840 onwards made it look increasingly redundant. The richly-deserved UNESCO award has put the aqueduct and its canal back in the limelight. This is a personal and professional story, putting Telford's work into its historical and social context, showing him as a remarkable mix of good-natured ambition, talent and resilience. Today there is great interest in Britain's transport infrastructure. The 19th-century engineers who did so much to pioneer and improve it are rightly seen as heroes. It will be appreciated how much is owed to Telford and others for creations that have stood the test of time, built with courage and daring, in an age when major construction projects relied heavily on pickaxes, wheelbarrows, and an extraordinary amount of hard physical labour.Trade Review'...this excellent book...an ideal companion...much more than a guide, it is also a history book and part biography...it is the tribute to the work of a great engineer'. Spout Magazine-------------------'..A beautifully produced and very handsomely illustrated book ... a wonderful and highly informative addition to the literature on Thomas Telford ... I hope it will encourage more people to visit Pontcysyllte and the Llangollen Canal'. Tim Rolt-------------------'...As well as the excellent narrative, the book is very well illustrated with many splendid images of this engineering marvel'. Coventry Canal Society-------------------'...this highly readable book, with many and varied illustrations (photographs, maps, reproductions of paintings and engineering drawings) which help to bring the subject to life alongside many quotes from a rich variety of sources'. Cuttings Magazine, Shropshire Union Canal Society

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Book SynopsisThis volume includes some very famous ships with tales of adventure and new trade routes, also sadness, the launch and then the loss of the largest sailing ship ever built in a British shipyard - the five-masted auxiliary sailing barque, Kobenhavn. It recounts the days when shipbuilding should have flourished and into the tough times of the Great Depression. It remains a testimony to the skill and determination of the people who built the ships and those who served on them. The fortunes of the three main shipyards are followed through good times to eventual closure or assimilation by the man who would open up the shipyard that took his name. Henry Robb Ltd, shipbuilders and engineers, began without a yard in which to build ships, but eventually took over firstly the old S&H Morton Shipyard, now occupied by Hawthorns & Co. Ltd. That gave Robb control of the Victoria Shipyard, and a few years later he would take over the Cran & Somerville yard, before acquiring the plant and goodwill of the Ramage & Ferguson Shipyard - the cream of the Leith shipyards. This last yard would always have a ship on one of its slipways; at the peak they had nine slips, and were pioneers in the building of diesel-powered coasters. Always innovative and with some of the best craftsmen in the industry, the shipyard of Henry Robb quickly acquired the reputation as builders of special ships. Leith Shipyards 1918-1939 continues the chronological story begun in Volume I and provides a fascinating illustrated story that reveals the remarkable and ongoing story of shipbuilding for which Scotland and the UK were renowned.

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Book SynopsisThis new book reveals the part played by the eight Bustler Class Rescue Tugs built at the Henry Robb Shipyard during the Second World War and will shed more light on the almost-forgotten part played by this country's mariners. The men and women who were rescued under the most trying of times and dreadful weather conditions would no doubt have felt immense gratitude to the brave souls who formed part of the huge maritime effort, both in war and peacetime. This is the story of the small force of much-needed rescue tugs that were built during the dark forbidding days of the Second World War, when Great Britain had only the ships and men to bring in the raw materials that were required to fight against the might of Nazi Germany and its Allies. This compelling story shines a spotlight on the small, but very significant work done over many years by His and Her Majesty's Rescue Tugs in defence of the realm, and which benefited seafarers all over the world. The author's very detailed account of the contribution made by HMRT in general, and the Bustler Class in particular, is an excellent read, and has brought to life the immense impact that these rescue tugs have had over many years, usually in dire circumstances, and especially during the Second World War. Many of these ships also served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and this story recognises the part played by these heroic rescue tugs in accounts of many convoys that crossed the seas and were attacked by hostile forces. This fine volume will help to raise the profile of these magnificent small and immensely powerful vessels, and of course their highly-skilled crews without whom these heroic achievements would not have been possible.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Leith-built ships continues in this third volume from just after the conclusion of World War Two to 1965. However, the world was different; the men came back from the front and those women who had been working in the shipyards lost their jobs. All shipyards were experiencing full order books, replacing, or repairing ships lost or damaged in the conflict, but the industry was changing albeit slowly at first. The advent of electric welding would eventually change the way ships were built leading to the demise of the Rivet Squad, which was replaced as a cost cutting exercise as it became the accepted method of ship construction. Henry Robb Shipyard participated in the massive new shipbuilding programme with a great many vessels being ordered from two of the largest customers of the yard. Many orders came from the giant Ellerman Lines, while a great many more were ordered by other customers, such as the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. The Admiralty also remained a customer and a few large supply ships would be built in this time. In this volume the author has not forgotten the people who were the very fabric of the yard and community. Personal accounts are included from those who built or sailed on these vessels. This is the story of a mighty industry, but one which nonetheless had begun its decline. In the century from 1893, this nation went from producing 80% of all the worlds' commercial ships to producing no commercial ships at all. It is a sad fact, but this volume keeps alive the story of the Leith-built ships and the vibrant industry that once existed.

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Book SynopsisThe Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, known in colonial Burma as the ‘Fabulous Flotilla’, was the largest privately-owned fleet of ships in the world. It was an entirely Scottish enterprise with nearly all its investors, management and ship’s officers drawn from Scotland. Over 1,200 ships were ordered mainly from Clyde yards and each year carried the majority of the population of Burma on its river network without loss of life. The paddle steamers were amongst the largest in the world, innovative in design and technology, and very beautiful. The flotilla began as a naval task force in the 1820s, was commandeered in five wars, and was to end its life with the British evacuation of Burma in 1942, the greatest evacuation in British military history. Fascinating personalities emerge from Strachan’s descriptions of Irrawaddy commanders and the flotilla’s key players. The ships evolved over a hundred years into riverine versions of ocean liners with plush cabins, restaurants, shops and even post offices on board. The largest class of ships carried 5,000 passengers including royalty, celebrities of the day and famous writers like Somerset Maugham along with early tourists and big game hunters. In the second part of the book, the author who himself has spent much of his life running ships on the rivers of Burma, takes us on a journey 1,000 miles upriver to explore the different regions of the country often highlighting Scottish connections. The river is the thread through which Burma’s often tragic history, yet rich and glorious Buddhist culture, flows and only on a river journey can the country be understood. Renamed Myanmar in 1997, Burma is Scotland’s ‘lost colony’ and the Scottish connection is little remembered today due to Burma’s half a century of post-war isolation. In its 1920s heyday Burma had the highest concentration of Scots anywhere in the world, outside of Scotland, with the exception of Canada. Scots were everywhere in Burma, running everything, and even their Burmese servants spoke in ‘broad’ Scots. With the ‘opening up’ of Burma in the early 21st century the Irrawaddy watershed, where about 50 million people live in a primitive rural economy, is under threat. Deforestation on a vast scale has resulted in the silting up of once navigable channels. China, with its ‘belt and road’ system that is a euphemism to a recolonisation of the country, plans to build one of the world’s largest dams in the river’s headwaters that would devastate the country’s agriculture and fisheries. The Fabulous Flotilla provides a revealing record of this remarkable era in Burma’s history and past Scottish endeavour – a jewel of a story that may soon be lost.

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of lightkeepers’ contributions to the natural history of lighthouses in conjunction with the history and maintenance of the manned navigation beacons – their primary function of course – ‘for the safety of all’. Since keepers were first engaged to maintain lighthouses around our coast they have encountered wildlife, and in some cases developed a keen interest and expertise on the subject. Towards the end of the nineteenth century keepers were encouraged to submit annual returns of bird movements enabling reports on bird migration and several authoritative books to be compiled. As a result, ornithologists began to recognise how many lighthouses were well-placed to establish bird observatories – a few were in redundant lighthouses, often on offshore islands. However, lightkeepers also recognised that in certain weather conditions and during migration times, flocks of birds were attracted to the beam, resulting in many fatalities. While the problem is now better understood and considerably reduced, the automation of all British lighthouses has resulted in there no longer being lighthouse keepers to monitor the situation and report bird, sea mammal, insect and bat movements. The Natural History of Lighthouses highlights the contribution made by lighthouse keepers over the last century or two to the study of natural history, and ornithology in particular. Much of this is discussed in the words of the keepers themselves, set in the context of lighthouse history. Scotland has an especially rich lighthouse tradition, mainly due to a dynasty of Stevenson engineers covering over a century, all of whom also had a profound understanding of weather and geology – and indeed natural history – so important in the placing of their lighthouses. Several redundant lighthouse buildings still function as bird observatories as well as wildlife viewpoints and study centres, museums, hotels, restaurants and private homes. The lanterns themselves are still maintained in this digital and satellite age, monitored remotely from a strategic control centre.Trade Review'...a collection of great stories about the life of the keepers, as well as references to the work of lightships and their crew. ...there are plenty of marvellous stories here. This well-produced book also contains some terrific photography.' Nautilus Telgraph

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Book SynopsisThe English canal network becomes increasingly popular and widely used each year. The main aim of this book is to explain how everything works - from locks and lifts, to tunnels and towpaths. Stan Yorke, a life-long narrow boat enthusiast, explains in an easy-to-understand manner the story of the canals. In this he is ably assisted by his son Trevor's superb drawings and diagrams. The book is divided into three clear sections. The first describes the history of the canals, the second looks at their structures and features, and the third suggests special sites of interest around the country, which can be visited by foot or by boat.

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Book SynopsisA practical illustrated guide to making scale model tug boats, offering information and guidance in line with the very latest developments in tug technology and design, and modern advances in model building. It covers scratch building, kits and mixing the two. The first six chapters are devoted to tugs in general, arranged by the duties for which each type of tug is designed. Subsequent chapters cover the details of scale modelling. This book is an enlargement and substantial revision of the tug material which appeared in the author's previous book Scale Model Tugs & Trawlers (Nexus Special Interests, 1999). Illustrated with original photographs and plans, it has been compiled from a wealth of practical experience and material gathered by experienced professional ship modeller Tom Gorman.Table of ContentsTugs in general. Harbour tugs. Coastal tugs. Estuary tugs and tug tenders. Ocean-going and salvage tugs. Small tugs, drive gear and towing. Modelling materials; handling fibreglass and other materials. Tools and equipment; power tools. Building a model tug; kits, semi-kits, adhesives. Electric motors; selecting and installing batteries. Miniature steam engines; selection and installation. Installation of state-of-the-art radio control equipment. Machinery and deck details of tugs; construction in miniature. Lighting the model tug; installation of navigation lights. Painting and finishing; displaying static models; maintaining working models. Competition; joining a model boat club.

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Book SynopsisConcentrates on the Bute West, Bute East and Roath Docks, from their beginnings in the 1840s, through the boom years of the 1950s and ''60s to the period of redevelopment and modernisation. This book includes 300 photographs and maps.

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Book SynopsisThe Worcester and Birmingham Canal, some thirty miles long, was created from 1791, when it was authorised by Act of Parliament, to 1815 when it was completed 24 years later. Although intended as a broad canal for barges and having five broad tunnels, it was eventually completed with narrow locks due to financial difficulties. From Gas Street Basin at the Birmingham end it passes through the suburbs of Edgbaston, Selly Oak and Kings Norton, then through the long West Hill Tunnel and via Hopwood and Alvechurch through countryside to Tardebigge, all this section being on the Birmingham Level. Then it descends in stages via fifty-six narrow locks and two barge locks to the River Severn at Diglis via Stoke Prior, Hanbury Wharf, Dunhampstead, Oddingley, Tibberton, Blackpole and the eastern suburbs of Worcester City. The earlier chapters of this book trace in detail the successive stages reached in making the canal and the reservoirs needed to safeguard the water supplies of millowners, the financial and other problems faced, and the saga of the Tardebigge Boat Lifi. Later chapters cover the history of the canal following its completion, its use for both commercial and pleasure purposes, its administration and management, its upkeep and maintenance, its involvement with railways, and the various industries and amenities which were established beside it, Three of the final chapters feature past and present places and items of interest located along the canal from Birmingham to Worcester. Of special interest throughout is the impact the canal had upon the lives of countless people, those involved in its construction, those who lived and worked on the boats, those who were employed by the Canal Company as engineers, lock-keepers and maintenance men, people who worked in canalside factories, shops, public house, boatyards, and on wharves, and those concerned for the welfare of canal boat families and their animals.Trade Review"Alan has produced a superb, and beautifully illustrated, definitive history of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal." - Chris Daniels, Waterways World. "Alan White's book is a very comprehensive account of the canal and has to be regarded as a definitive work." - Stanley Holland, Canals & Rivers.

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