In the Age of Fighting Sail" (1650-1820) ambitious officers of the navies of many nations sought command of a frigate. Speedy nimble & formidably armed frigates often operated independently unlike the larger ships of the line. Legendary sailors such as Edward Pellew & Charles-Alexandre Leon Durand Comte de Linoise found that commanding such a ship offered numerous opportunities for wealth. In this book four representative frigate duels are examined: first a battle fought between two closely matched ships (HMS Nymphe (36) vs La Cleopatre (32); second a victory won by an inferior British frigate over a superior French frigate (HMS Pallas (32) vs Minerve (40); third a victory
- the only one
- by an inferior French frigate over a superior British frigate (HMS Ambuscade (32) vs Baionnaise (24) & fourth victory of a superior British frigate over an inferior French frigate (HMS Indefatigable (44) of Hornblower fame vs La Virginie (40). Featuring specially commissioned artwork & offering expert analysis this study provides a vivid account of the bloody combats fought by the most romantic warship of the Revolutionary & Napoleonic era
- the frigate."