In the early 19 th century, Mexico produced approximately half of the world’s silver. Along with gold and jewels, this was used to pay for British trade goods. The problem was how to get these safely ...

The free quarterly newsletter of the Society for Nautical Research keeping you up to date with all society news, short research articles, headlines from the world of maritime research and heritage, ...

The use of the wheel to activate a ship’s rudder via the tiller came into use in the early 1700’s, in England, France and later Venetia. The essential problem was to translate the rotary motion of the ...

One of Spain’s treasure shipments was intercepted by an Irish privateer, one of many off the waters of Britain. Letters of marque issued by the Spanish authority in Flanders allowed privateers to ...

Dating back to the late 13th century this wreck lies in 26m of water some 110nm North of Jakarta and 40nm off the Sumatran coast. She displaced around 300 tonnes. Earlier looting had taken place prior ...

In terms of the intensity of activity the thirty years between 1695 and 1725 were the “Golden Age” of piracy afloat. Early modern piracy flourished because it offered material gains rather than being ...

The declaration of War in 1914 initiated the German Staff orders for offensive mining operations against British shipping. A merchant ship recently converted to a minelayer, proceeded to drop mines ...

The free quarterly newsletter of the Society for Nautical Research keeping you up to date with all society news, short research articles, headlines from the world of maritime research and heritage, ...

King Philip II delayed sending galleys to defend Santo Domingo from pirates, due to instability, corruption, and monetary chaos on the island of Hispaniola. The two galleys finally sent in 1582 soon ...

A description of the events that led to the 60 gun ship Weymouth, Captain Calmady, breaking up on a reef in February 1745. Using the ships log and notes from the ...

The Naval Academy at Portsmouth was established in 1733. During its 104 years of operation it developed a poor reputation; Lord St. Vincent called it a “sink of vice and abomination…” Closed in 1833, ...

In February 1946, a “sit down” strike/mutiny broke out among seamen at the RIN Signal School at Colaba, Bombay, and was followed by general disaffection and in some cases violence in RIN bases and ...