The Bomb Vessel Granado 1742

Built as a floating siege engine able to withstand the recoil of shell-firing mortars, the Granado was one of twelve bomb vessels supplementing the depleted British fleet at the outbreak of the War of Jenkins' Ear in 1739. This book begins with a brief description of the development of bomb vessels, from the early galiote a bombe built in 1682 to the World War II monitors used for coastal bombardment, and continues with an in-depth description of the Granado, a summary of the ship's career, and more than 250 detailed illustrations. The book also provides insights into fictional hero Jack Aubrey's first command, the Sophie, a 14-gun brig-sloop with a quarterdeck and stern windows.