From the dawn of civilization man has held a fascination with the sea, and over the centuries has built a myriad of ships and sailing craft for an equally diverse range of purposes. Ships Visual Encyclopedia provides a fascinating at-a-glance guide to more than 1200 of the most important ships from the earliest times to the present day. Each ship is illustrated with a profile illustration, accompanied by brief details and specifications, and vessels are arranged chronologically and by use to allow easy comparison. Timelines of design and development are also provided on many pages where appropriate, giving a sense of the history of each type of ship.