Customer Reviews

Confederate Blockade Runner 1861-65 (New Vanguard)

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This is a must-have if you are interested in Civil War maritime history, the Blockade, or the Confederacy in general. Blockade runners rapidly evolved into a very specialized type of ship, capable of running their cargos at high-speed while adopting what would become known as stealth characteristics. This book, like most in the Osprey series, has a lot of information crammed into a small space, including information on early runners adopted from packet steamer designs, the evolution of naval technology at the time and even a little on the tactics employed by the small boats. The illustrations are what really makes the book though... beautifully done and technically accurate they make this book a unique resource.

The book starts by providing an short but very good introduction showing the importance of blockage running to the South's war effort and economy and hence the importance of the blockade runners. Considering this importance, it is definitely not covered well enough in existing literature.

After this, the book discusses the history of blockade running from the start of the war to end. One sees how the ships and tactics, very well, evolved during this period. At first, just about anything was used as a blockade runner. As the war went on the ships became more and more specialized and developed certain characteristics (i.e., 1 to 8 width by hull length, metal hulls, low bridges, funnels and masts that had the ability to fold down, etc.).

In addition there is a discussion as to the types of cargoes carried, crews, routes used, where the ships were acquired, how built and, possibly most important of all, the impact of the ships on ship design and development after the war. The latter, especially, has rarely been written about.

Excellent historical content and outstanding images and art work. Great addition to Civil War library.