New Vanguard

When war broke out in 1812, neither the United States Navy nor the Royal Navy had more than a token force on the Great Lakes.

However, once the shooting started, it sparked a ship-building arms race that continued throughout the war. Mark Lardas examines the design and development of the warships built upon the lakes during the war, emphasising their differences from their salt-water contemporaries. Alongside illustrations, he explains their operational use as they were pitted against each other in a number of clashes on the lakes that often saw ships captured, re-crewed, and thrown back against their previous owners.

Released in 2012 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the outbreak of the war, this is a timely look at a small, freshwater naval war.