Stephen Biesty’s Cross-Sections: Man-of-War

Stephen Biesty’s Cross-Sections: Man-of-War is a detailed digital PDF about the structure and working life of a wooden warship. This illustrated book offers a section-by-section tour of a Royal Navy man-of-war from around 1800.

The digital format is suitable for compatible reading apps and devices. After purchase, you receive an instant download with access to the PDF file.

Written by Richard Platt and illustrated by Stephen Biesty, this reformatted edition was published in 2019 by DK Publishing.

Book Overview

This illustrated history book examines a British Royal Navy man-of-war as both a complex sailing machine and a crowded workplace. It describes the ship’s decks, weapons, masts, sails, storage areas, crew spaces, and officers’ quarters.

The cross-sections are based on HMS Victory, built in 1765 and fought in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The book presents life at sea around the year 1800, including the dangers of battle, accidents, disease, damp conditions, darkness, and overcrowding.

The contents cover health at sea, cooking and eating, leisure and supplies, working at sea, battle stations, sleeping, navigation and discipline, the officers, and the admiral. A glossary and index complete the volume.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• The main parts of an 18th-century wooden warship, including the hull, decks, masts, yards, sails, ropes, rudder, anchor, and hold.
• The roles and uses of the poop deck, quarterdeck, forecastle, upper gun deck, middle deck, lower deck, orlop deck, and hold.
• The weapons carried by the ship, including 12-pounder, 24-pounder, and 32-pounder cannons and 68-pounder carronades.
• The daily conditions and routines of sailors, including sleeping, eating, working, navigation, discipline, and health at sea.
• The work of officers, the admiral, signalmen, and other members of the crew.
• The imperial measurements used for gun weights and food rations, with metric equivalents in the text.
• A glossary and index for reference.

Why This Book Matters

The book connects the physical anatomy of a warship with the people, systems, and routines that made it function. Its cross-sectional approach makes the relationship between decks, weapons, supplies, and crew activity clear.

By focusing on HMS Victory and the Royal Navy around 1800, it provides a factual visual introduction to naval life and maritime warfare during the age of wooden sailing warships.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital PDF download. There is no physical shipping, and access is available after purchase.

The file works with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and compatible reading apps that support PDF files. Device display and navigation may vary by application.

FAQ

When can I access the book?
Access is available after purchase through an instant digital download.

Will I receive a physical copy?
No. This listing provides a digital PDF file, with no physical shipping.

Which devices support the file?
The PDF can be opened with compatible Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and reading apps.

Download the digital edition to explore the structure, equipment, and working life of a Royal Navy man-of-war.

Verified Bibliographic Details