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Osprey "New Vanguard"
American Heavy Frigates 1794-1826
by Mark Lardas (ills. Tony Bryan) reviewed by Ian Daglish
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As the Osprey range grows ever more extensive, its different titles appear increasingly to be overlapping. Just one example: there must now be several covering one aspect or another of the Sherman tank; some in broad generality, others focusing on specific detail. While this is admirable insofar as it meets the different needs of different readers, it does nevertheless require a degree of selectivity. Also, with so many titles in the range, the greater the chance of missing one while browsing the bookshelves.
This book appears to sit very nicely between the general and the specific. The title suggests a very narrow topic, and the book does not disappoint in its detail. But the topic turns out to be one of historical importance and interest.
Most people's knowledge of the War of 1812 will include the fact that the British took Washington and burned down the American White House, and probably also that the Royal Navy engaged the fledgling American in a series of frigate actions. Readers of C S Forrester (and more recently Patrick O'Brien) will be familiar with the story of early and repeated defeats shaking the self confidence of a Royal Navy accustomed to victory. This book deals with the weapons that achieved this feat.
"Heavy Frigates" can be divided into four distinct and roughly equal sections. The first quarter offers a succinct story of the design and development of the American frigates. In a mere dozen pages we learn answers to key questions. Why did the Americans build their big frigates? (Because they had a vision of a national naval strategy and the appropriate tactics and weapons to execute it.) How did the Americans build longer and faster frigates? (Design innovation.) Why did the British not? (Cost, men, and materials, until it became necessary to invest in copying the enemy - a familiar tale!)
The second quarter of the book is an "operational history", which necessarily focuses on the frigates' role in the war of 1812. (And surprisingly does not include the familiar action between Shannon and Chesapeake, though quite correctly since Chesapeake was not one of the heavy "Humphreys frigates" of the title.) This section is short but adequate: anyone desiring more detail will have no difficulty finding it. Thirdly, in true Osprey style, we have a series of plates offering everything from a detail of boarding axe and pike through to a magnificent cutaway illustration of Old Ironsides from main brace bumpkin to martingale (which illustration also graces the cover). Finally, we are presented with a listing of all ships in the class with key dates, statistics, and thumbnail history for each.
Overall this is an informative and useful volume presented in a businesslike and clear manner. Any reader wanting to get a little deeper into the technicalities is strongly recommended to look at "Nelson's Navy: The Ships, Men, and Organisation" by Brian Lavery. For period feel, there is Patrick O'Brian's novel "The Fortune of War". But a personal favourite of this reviewer is a brilliant little book simply entitled "The Frigates" by James Henderson. This volume (and its companion "Sloops and Brigs") had long been out of print, but its reappearance as a Wordsworth Military Library paperback offers an opportunity to obtain a copy.
(Ian Daglish is the author of "Operation BLUECOAT: the British Armoured Breakout from Normandy", published by Leo Cooper Pen & Sword. He is currently completing "Operation GOODWOOD: the Great Tank Charge")
American Heavy Frigates 1794-1826
by Mark Lardas (ills. Tony Bryan)
Osprey "New Vanguard"
ISBN 1 84176 630 5
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