Book Reviews
Cruisers and ‘La Guerre de
Course’
Review by Robert s Hunter
Cruisers and ‘La Guerre de ships commanded by legendary names at a
Course’ time when radio communication was in its
by Ian Marshall infancy. These battles took place between
Mystic Seaport Museum opposing naval forces as far apart as the
PO Box 6000 Mediterranean, the Sea of Japan, the hide
Mystic and seek stealth activities in the Chilean
CT 06355 0990 Fjords and Tierra del Fuego, the Falklands,
USA the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
ISBN 978-0-939511-20-4 The last chapter highlights some signifi-
Hardback, 232 pages cant merchant ships, many of them passen-
US$60.00 ger liners which were commandeered
and very hurriedly converted into Armed
Commerce Raiders. These vessels struggled
to break through the British blockade of the
T
his is marine watercolour artist Ian adopted by the major naval powers in the late North Sea on their roaming mission to seek
Marshall’s fifth publication, and it 19th and early 20th Century. and destroy vital communication and fuel
demonstrates his extensive knowledge Over 50 colour plates of his evocative, supply lines, and undermine the commerce
of naval history, as well as his artistic talent. slightly impressionistic but detailed work, and of the allies.
On this occasion he has chosen as his subject many pencil sketches, diagrams, and maps For those with an interest in maritime
the evolution of the Cruiser Type, from early illustrate and bring his text to life, clearly history and marine art, on the presentation
beginnings with the activities of the 18th and the subject of detailed research. The author of the colour plates alone this volume is a
19th Century Privateers, the havoc caused traces the developments in naval architecture worthy and major addition to any private
by the Confederate Commerce Raiders in and marine engineering made possible by book collection with a naval heritage theme;
the American Civil War, followed by the the transition from sail to steam, and from but for a reader interested in the evolution of
worldwide ‘La Guerre de Course’ strategies construction in wood to iron, and then steel. naval design, engineering, and naval warfare,
The life of an army of firemen and trimmers, and those who devote their lives to service in
perpetually shovelling coal in the hell-hole of the modern navies of the world, the detailed
sMs konisberg, Dar es salaam, German east
the boiler room floor plates to maintain a head and informative text is a wonderfully explicit
Africa painted by ian Marshall.
of steam, is in stark contrast to the roles taken read, and the quality of the colour plates is an
by Lord Armstrong and his contemporaries added bonus.
as arms and warship suppliers to the navies Ian Marshall, born in Fife, Scotland,
of the world from his Tyneside shipyard at trained as an architect in Cape Town and
Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Pennsylvania Universities, and now lives
Ian Marshall devotes a lengthy chapter to in Maine, USA, with his American wife
a detailed account of Cruiser development in Jean. He is also currently president of the
the Royal Navy, thereafter tracing develop- American Society of Marine Artists.
ment by other leading naval powers of the His work hangs in the permanent collec-
Victorian era; recounting some of the more tions of the US Naval Academy Museum
significant confrontations by legendary at Annapolis; the Royal Naval Museum at
Portsmouth, England; the Scottish United
Services Museum, Edinburgh Castle; the
Maine Maritime Museum, Bath; Lloyd’s of
London; the Foynes Flying Boat Museum
County Limerick, Ireland; the Botswana
National Museum at Gabarone; and the
Royal Netherlands Navy Museum at Den
Helder, The Netherlands. NA
General o’Higgins for the Chile Navy, elswick
shipyard, Newcastle Upon tyne, 1898.
The Naval Architect February 2008 105
NA Feb 08 - p105+106+107.indd 105 05/02/2008 12:32:53
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