Military Model Scene

Title: American Privateers of the Revolutionary War

Author: Angus Konstam

Publisher: Osprey

ISBN: 978-1-4728-3634-2

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Number 279 in their New Vanguard series, this new addition to the Osprey series from author Angus Konstam makes for another interesting book accompanied but more of the always excellent Osprey artwork, this time by Paul Wright.
The story covers a mix of the many factors which went together to make up the wider story. Both sides issued Letters of Marque to private captains which gave them some sort of legal authority to capture or sink, enemy ships, particularly merchantmen. It also describes the types and sizes of vessels that were used, and the crews and armaments they carried. This includes some useful explanations of the different rigging that identified different types of vessel. This is supported by some of the excellent artwork. The numbers of these 'authorised' privateers I found quite surprising. It does also explain how the men were paid, from Prize Money rather than a regular wage. Did the owners do it because they genuinely supported the Revolution, or for the money?
With all this it is rounded off with how the privateers fared in action, making it an interesting story.

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Thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review copy.

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Robin