The Sea Warriors: Fighting Captains and Frigate Warfare in the Age of Nelson

by Richard Woodman

Overview

“A marvelous book. . . . shows where Patrick O’Brian and C.S Forester got all their stuff from, but is more exciting than either.” —Times Literary Supplement
 
The Sea Warriors is the true story of the great frigate captains of the Nelsonic Royal Navy who spent long and arduous years away from their homes fighting for king and country, to win and hold control of the seas. Richard Woodman skillfully dissects the events of the war years, focusing on the cruiser war, that war between opposing frigates that entailed the blockade of enemy ports, the interception of enemy trade, and the protection of Britain’s merchant ships. The whole magnificent sweep of this great struggle is set against its political background of the Napoleonic wars and the sea war with America.
 
With this narrative come an extraordinary array of young, daring, and hugely skilled frigate captains whose ability to grasp the chances offered by war made them household names in this savage age. Some, like Warren, Pellew, Cochrane, and Collingwood, are still renowned; others are here rescued from under the shadow of Nelson as the author recounts their brave and brilliant exploits.
 
As well as the thrilling accounts of sea battles and single-ship actions, the author describes the darker side to life at sea—the constant danger and harsh discipline, the wearying monotony of sea-keeping, the scourges of disease, and the occasional outbreaks of mutiny. All this is brought together in a stirring narrative by one of Britain’s finest naval writers.
 
“A superb Napoleonic war study” —Daily Telegraph

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473843127
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	01/31/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	500,986
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Richard Woodman is a distinguished, prize-winning maritime author. He served at sea from the age of sixteen, spent eleven years in command, spent six years in operational management and is today an Elder Brother of Trinity House. The author of a number of novels, his historical studies include Arctic Convoys 1941-1945, Malta Convoys 194-1943, The Real Cruel Sea: The Merchant Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1943 and a five volume History of the British Merchant Navy.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

Maps x

Foreword xv

1 'Post nubila Phoebus' 1

2 'We dished her up in fifty minutes' 19

3 'Consummate professional skill' 35

4 'A very heavy gale1 53

5 'Broadside uppermost' 69

6 'The Devil in harbour' 91

7 'I shall return' 105

8 'I will lead you myself 119

9 'So daring an enterprise' 139

10 'The peace which passeth all understanding' 163

11 'England expects' 187

12 Firmness … to the backbone' 209

13 'Stand firm' 229

14 'Remember Nelson' 247

15 'My Lord, you must go…' 263

16 'To purge the eastern side of the globe' 279

17 'Don't give up the ship' 295

18 'The ship is safe' 323

Chronology 333

Select Bibliography 343

An Explanation of Terminology and Glossary 347

Index 357