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Able Seamen

The Lower Deck of the Royal Navy, 1850–1939

Brian Lavery
The change from sail to steam in the Royal Navy was underway by 1850 and in the following decades the work and life of ordinary seamen changed radically as new jobs, servicing the engines and operating the sophisticated gunnery and communications systems, replaced the traditional lot of the sailor. This well-researched history chronicles the increasing professionalization and specialization of the lower deck as the Navy rapidly evolved and introduced many of the roles and practices which are familiar today.
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RRP £38.95

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Product information:
  • Publisher: Naval IP
  • Year: 2011
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 352pp
  • Illustrated: Yes
  • Dimensions: 241x164mm
  • ISBN: 9781591147305
  • Condition: New
  • Weight: 0.8kg
Product code:
506431
Product information
Full publisher description
Brian Lavery returns with the second volume of his engaging social history of the Royal Navy's 'lower deck.' Able Seamen addresses a range of issues central to the evolution of the seaman through 89 years of change. Readable, engaging and authoritative, it chronicles an important stage in the history of the Royal Navy and illuminates the inherent adaptability of the lower deck, as new technologies demanded increased professionalism, specialization, and training. The book also examines the changing social structure of the Navy, and the great demands made on the Service throughout the British Empire.
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