The Anatomy of the Ship series of books are comprehensive treatments of the design and construction of individual ships. They have been published by Conway Maritime Press (now Conway Publishing) since the 1980s, and republished in the US by the Naval Institute Press.

About the series

Each volume begins with a general history of the vessel, as preface to a set of detailed scale drawings showing every part of the interior and exterior, from keel to masthead. Black-and-white photographs and engravings, including of ship models for older types, round out the description. Since 1998, each volume has carried a large-scale plan on the reverse of the fold-off dust jacket.

According to its producers, the series ‘aims to provide the finest documentation of individual ships and ship types ever published. What makes the series unique is a complete set of superbly executed line drawings, both the conventional type of plan as well as explanatory views, with fully descriptive keys. These are supported by technical details and a record of the ship’s service.’Anatomy of the Ship, Conway Publishing

The ships chosen are a mix of famous vessels, such as and Yamato, and less-famous ships that are well-documented representatives of their class (, Lawhill).

Classification

The series is divided into two distinct – yet broadly encompassing – categories, identified by colour coding. Firstly, those presented in a yellow-and-silver themed dust jacket relate to ‘non-motor-propelled’ ships. This group tracks the development of ship design from The Ships of Christopher Columbus, through to the end of the age of sail (those designed or constructed approximately up until the 1860s), such as the HMS Beagle: Survey Ship Extraordinaire, 1820–70, by Karl Heinz Marquardt.

Ships thereafter, powered by steam and screw propulsion, are represented in silver-and-blue themed dust jackets. These include submarines, the Japanese World War II vessel, The Battleship Yamato, by Janusz Skulski, and The Aircraft Carrier Victorious, by Ross Watton.

Index

Title Author Year ISBN The Flower Class Corvette John McKay and John Harland 1993 The Naval Cutter , 1777 Peter Goodwin 2003 (Revised ed. 2004) The Submarine John Lambert, David Hill 1986 The Cruiser Franco Gay, Gay Valerio 1987 Survey Ship Extraordinary, 1820–1870 Karl Heinz Marquardt 1997 The Cruiser Ross Watton 1985 (Reprinted 2003) The 74-Gun Ship Brian Lavery 1985 (Reprinted 2003) The Schooner Bertha L. Downs Basil Greenhill, Sam Manning 1995 The Battleship Jack Brower 2005 The Battleship Stefan Draminski 2018 The 20-Gun Ship Peter Goodwin 1988 The Armed Transport Bounty John McKay 1989 (Reprinted 2001) The Destroyer Al Ross 1990 (Reprinted 2004) The Royal Yacht Caroline, 1749 Sergio Bellabarba, Giorgio Osculati 1989 The Ships of Christopher Columbus (Niña, , ) Xavier Pastor 1992 The 44-Gun Frigate Karl Heinz Marquardt 2005 The Frigate David White 1987 The Battleship John Roberts 1992 (Reprinted 2001) Captain Cook's Karl Heinz Marquardt 1995 (Revised ed. 2003) The Destroyer Escort Al Ross 1985 The 32-Gun Frigate Portia Takakjian 2005 The Fairmile D Motor Torpedo Boat John Lambert 1985 (Revised ed. 2005) The Battleship Janusz Skulski 1998 The Escort Carrier Al Ross 1993 The Bomb Vessel Granado, 1742 Peter Goodwin 1989 The Battlecruiser John Roberts 1982 (Reprinted 1989, 2001) The Aircraft Carrier John Roberts 1982 The Battleship Stefan Draminski 2020 The Destroyer Stefan Draminski 2024 The Four Masted Barque Lawhill Kenneth Edwards, Roderick Anderson, Richard Cookson 1996 Tudor Warship Mary Rose Douglas McElvogue 2020 The 24-Gun Frigate , 1779 John McKay & Ron Coleman 2003 (Revised ed.) The Liner Ross Watton 1989 The Battleship Stefan Draminski 2021 The Destroyer Al Ross 1988 The Susan Constant, 1605 Brian Lavery 1989 The Heavy Cruiser Janusz Skulski 1994 (Reprinted 2004) The Type VII U-boat David Westwood 1984 (Reprinted 1986) The Type XXI U-boat Fritz Kohl, Eberhard Rossler 2002 The Aircraft Carrier Ross Watton 1991 (Reprinted 2004) The 100-Gun Ship John McKay 1987 (Reprinted 1995) The Battleship Ross Watton 1986 (Reprinted 2004) The Battleship Janusz Skulski 1988

References