Signalling an interesting read
What Ship, Where Bound? by David Craddock
David Craddock, who received his own signals training from a seafarer who served as a boy signaller at the Battle of Jutland, explores 2,500 years of visual communication at sea.
Beginning with flag signalling and moving on to semaphore, light signalling and pyrotechnics, Craddock explains the history of signals in naval warfare from the Age of Sail to the modern era.
He presents a range of flag systems, which look resplendent in the full-colour illustrations, and also demonstrates how they were used, with the famous example of Nelson's signal at Trafalgar and an extended discussion of signals at Jutland. Peace-time signalling is not the focus, but it isn't neglected either – commercial codes and signals from ship to shore are also included in this thoroughly accessible history of the technology and practice.
Buy this book in the Nautilus Bookshop
While you're there, why not browse the rest of the titles in our unique maritime bookshop, which sells all the books reviewed on these pages.
Buy nowMore Books
Legendary Lusitania brought to life
HistoryNo less than five authors, Titanic experts and artists have come together to create two definitive (and rather beautiful) coffee table books about the Lusitania.
New edition of cargo-handling classic
Thomas' Stowage: The Properties and Stowage of Cargoes, 10th editionThe weighty textbook Thomas' Stowage has become the bible of cargo handling, with fresh editions periodically issued to take account of new legislation, new commodities and improved methods of handling and carriage.
Scottish shipbuilding within living memory
Leith-Built Ships Volume 4: Robb Caledon (1965-1984The popular Leith-Built Ships series has moved into a period within the memory of many Nautilus members. The vessels featured this time include the tug Lloydsman, which was involved in the Icelandic 'cod wars', and the Falklands War hospital ship HMS Herald.
Engrossing ship history of a slave transporter-turned-liberator
Predator of the Seas by Stephen TaylorA ship biography like no other, Predator of the Seas has a fascinating subject – the Black Joke, which surely stands out as one of the most remarkable vessels of all time.