Anatomy of the Ship series


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 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.’
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.

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, 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

TitleAuthorYearISBN
Tudor Warship Mary RoseDouglas McElvogue2020
The Flower Class Corvette John McKay and John Harland1993
The Naval Cutter, 1777Peter Goodwin2003
The Submarine John Lambert, David Hill1986
The Cruiser Franco Gay, Gay Valerio1987
Survey Ship Extraordinary, 1820–1870Karl Heinz Marquardt1997
The Cruiser Ross Watton1985
The 74-Gun Ship Brian Lavery1985
The Schooner Bertha L. DownsBasil Greenhill, Sam Manning1995
The 20-Gun Ship BlandfordPeter Goodwin1988
The Armed Transport BountyJohn McKay1989
The Destroyer Al Ross1990
The Royal Yacht Caroline, 1749Sergio Bellabarba, Giorgio Osculati1989
The Ships of Christopher Columbus Xavier Pastor1992
The Frigate David White1987
The Battleship John Roberts1992
Captain Cook's Karl Heinz Marquardt1995
The Destroyer Escort Al Ross1985
The 32-Gun Frigate Portia Takakjian2005
The Fairmile D Motor Torpedo BoatJohn Lambert1985
The Battleship Janusz Skulski1998
The Escort Carrier Al Ross1993
The Bomb Vessel Granado, 1742Peter Goodwin1989
The Battlecruiser John Roberts1982
The Aircraft Carrier John Roberts1982
The Four Masted Barque LawhillKenneth Edwards, Roderick Anderson, Richard Cookson1996
The 24-Gun Frigate, 1779John McKay & Ron Coleman2003
The Liner Ross Watton1989
The Destroyer Al Ross1988
The Susan Constant, 1607Brian Lavery1989
The Heavy Cruiser Janusz Skulski1994
The Type VII U-boatDavid Westwood1984
The Type XXI U-boatFritz Kohl, Eberhard Rossler2002
The Aircraft Carrier Ross Watton1991
The 100-Gun Ship John McKay1987
The Battleship Ross Watton1986
The Battleship Janusz Skulski1988
The 44-Gun Frigate Karl Heinz Marquardt2005
The Battleship Jack Brower2005
The Athenian TriremeDoug McElvogue