Trincomalee : The Last of Nelson's Frigates

This beautifully illustrated volume recounts the development, construction, and modern-day restoration of the HMS Trincomalee. Launched in 1817, the 38-gun Fifth Rate was the vanguard of a new class built for longevity and resistance to climatic extremes. Designed of teak wood in Bombay, India, under the supervision of master shipbuilder Jamsetjee Bomanjee, the sturdy ship fulfilled its promise in waters from the West Indies to the Arctic, combining imperial policing duties with oceanography and exploration voyages. Once the ship's sailing days were over, even a century of neglect could not destroy the resilient teak hull and the now restored Trincomalee lies dockside at Hartlepool, England, where it helps visitors appreciate the realities of naval life in the age of sail. For those unable to visit her, the book's selection of photographs and drawings of the ship at each stage of her life as well as details of her dimensions, spars, and armament provide a "virtual" tour of one of the few Nelson frigates still in existence.