Fully illustrated with striking art, Ships contains 300 mercantile and military vessels arranged in chronological order, from ancient times to the present day. From the Cheops ships used in 3000 BC, through the graceful trading clippers of the nineteenth century, to the sophisticated and heavily armed submarines of the nuclear era, Ships sails through history to explore every type of vessel from every part of the world. These beautifully illustrated and information-packed pages survey ancient galleys, Viking longships, medieval cogs, galleasses, galleons, men-of-war, coastal gunboats, iron-clad steamboats, dreadnoughts, aircraft carriers, and nuclear subs. Many well-known crafts are included, such as Nelson's flagship HMS Victory , the ill-fated Titanic , and the infamous German World War II battle cruiser Bismarck . Each ship appears in a colorful artwork, while lively text offers a concise service history and a specification box provides comprehensive technical data on displacement, dimensions, machinery, armament, speed, complement, and more.