European Ironclads 1860-75: The Gloire sparks the great ironclad arms race

This book explores 15 years that transformed European naval warfare, with the Gloire's ironclad leading to an arms race and the development of new technologies and designs. The ram briefly came back into fashion, and the modern battleship was becoming recognizable.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 48 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

From Spain to Russia, and from Ottoman Turkey to Bismarck's Prussia, this book explores 15 years that transformed European naval warfare. When the Gloire slid down the Toulon slipway in 1859, it changed sea power forever. With this ship, France had a warship that could sink any other, and which was proof against the guns of any wooden ship afloat. Instantly, an arms race began between the great navies of Europe – first to build their own ironclads, and then to surpass each other's technology and designs. As both armor and gun technology rapidly improved, naval architects found new ways to mount and protect guns. The ram briefly came back into fashion, and Italian and Austro-Hungarian fleets fought the ironclad era's great battle at Lissa. By the end of this revolutionary period, the modern battleship was becoming recognizable, and new naval powers were emerging to dominate Europe's waters.

Weight: 166g
Dimension: 244 x 172 x 5 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472826763