History of the American Sailing Navy

This is the most comprehensive book ever to be published on the sailing men-of-war of the United States Navy. The sailing-ship era of our Navy was highly picturesque and most important. It was an era that saw the founding of the United States, its development as a naval and maritime power, the foundation. of a national maritime policy, and the establishment of the great and enduring traditions of the Navy.

Mr. Chapelle here presents a full story of the building of our sailing Navy from colonial times to the time of the last all-sailing man-of-war, built just prior to the Civil War. In this parade of ships pass those of glorious name, Constitution, Hancock, Confederacy, Washington, President, Essex, Constellation, as well as those smaller but nonetheless important sailing men-of-war that made the United States Navy respected throughout the world. The design and construction of every type of ship is fully detailed, with comments on trends in technical thought and administration as they affected American naval ships.

Howard I. Chapelle, a naval architect, is recognized as one of the leading maritime historians of America. He is the author of numerous books on marine subjects, among which The History of American Sailing Ships is a recognized classic. The late Lincoln Colcord said of him, "Chapelle in my opinion has the soundest ideas on the history of naval architecture and the development of American ship types of any man writing on the subject today. His work will be of permanent historical value."

200 plans, half tones, full color reproduction of a painting by the late George C. Wales.