Description:
    "Bruce, 250p 11 b/w illustrations, 3 b/w photos, 5 maps. The book describes how the Royal Navy of the early eighteenth century faced several disasters and setbacks despite its supreme belief in itself. However, through reforms and the determined focus of a number of personalities, including George, Lord Anson, the navy was transformed in the middle years of the eighteenth century. The author explains how it acquired uniforms, a definite rank structure for officers, developed new ship types such as the 74 and the frigate, and instigated a more efficient method of recruiting seamen. The coppering of ships’ hulls and solving problems associated with longitude and scurvy were also significant steps. This book offers an analysis of these far-reaching reforms that led to the transformation of Britain’s navy into a global force."