"Shipwrecks: An Encyclopeida of the World's Worst Disasters at Sea" (used book)

Shipwrecks: An Encyclopeida of the World's Worst Disasters at Sea

by David Ritchie

About the book

Used book. Paperback. Excellent condition

From cowardly captains and deadly icebergs to mutinies and nuclear submarine wrecks, this unique work chronicles the world’s most amazing maritime disasters. Numerous entries discuss the history of shipbuilding, different types of boats and the causes of their eventual destruction. From wrecks such as that of the Chinese steamer Kiangya, in which 2,800 died, to that of American liner Arctic, notorious because of the behaviour of its crew, which pushed aside passengers in a rush to the ship’s lifeboats, this work includes the world’s most important maritime catastrophes. Here are just a few of the unusual disasters you’ll encounter in this engaging encyclopedia:

• The Wilhelm Gustloff, which sailed from Danzig in January 1945 and was sunk by a Russian submarine, killing ore than 6,000 people and making it the most deadly shipwreck in history
• The Thresher, an American nuclear submarine, sunk off the coast of Cape Cod in 1963 despite its sophisticated navigational equipment, killing all 129 crew members
• The infamous Titanic, a British luxury liner sunk after hitting an iceberg, resulting in 1,517 deaths due to a lack of lifeboats
• The Central America, a sidewheel steamer sunk in a storm in 1857, taking 21 tons of gold to the bottom of the ocean

Laden with fascinating anecdotes about the men and women involved in maritime tragedies and the ships themselves, Shipwrecks also contains information about the trials and publicity that followed these disasters; the environmental issues raised by oil tanker and nuclear submarine wrecks; archaeologies and treasure hunters; and different kinds of ships, their strengths and weaknesses. This book is perfect for the historian, maritime buff and general reader.