The Age of Sail: A Time When the Fortunes of Nations and Lives of Seamen Literally Turned With the Winds Their Ships Encountered at Sea

Abstract

This paper examines the evidence to support the view that the inability of seamen to determine accurate longitude at sea in sailing ships was a major factor in the loss of ships and crews that was effectively solved by the introduction of the marine chronometer. It concludes that this was not the case and that a more compelling factor for the safety of ships was the introduction of mechanical propulsion systems.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA528454

Entities

People

  • Merri S. Carter
  • William E. Carter

Organizations

  • United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Celestial Navigation
  • Climate Change
  • Dead Reckoning
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Guidance
  • Islands
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Navigation
  • New York
  • North America
  • Observatories
  • Oceans
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Propulsion Systems
  • United States
  • West Indies

Readers

  • Geodesy
  • Maritime Security/Maritime Homeland Security
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.