The 2nd volume in this comprehensive naval history details the design and employment of British warships through the 18th century. The Hanoverian dynasty that came to power with the accession of George I in 1714 inherited the largest navy in the world. In the course of the century, this force would see a vast amount of action against nearly every major navy, reaching a pinnacle of success in the Seven Years War only to taste defeat in the American Revolution. This superb reference book outlines the service history of every ship that fought for the Royal Navy in the great wars of the eighteenth century—well over 2000 vessels. The book is organized by Rate, classification and class. The technical and building data of each ship is followed by a concise summary of its career. This includes commissioning dates, refit periods, changes of captain, the stations where they served, and details of any noteworthy actions in which they took part. It will enable anyone to follow up a casual reference to any warship, and will provide the researcher with a solid core of information on which to base further study. With its unique depth of information, this is a work of the utmost importance to every naval historian and general reader interested in the navy of the sailing era.
