French Warships in the Age of Sail, 1786–1861

This comprehensive reference presents in-depth information on French Naval ships of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. By 1786, after besting the Royal Navy in its many conflicts across the Atlantic, the French Navy had earned a sterling reputation for its ship design and fighting skills. Yet within a few years, the French Revolution had devastated its efficiency, leading to one defeat after another. This lull persisted until 1815, when the French Navy's technical innovations produced some