Colonial Naval Adventures?

[rebelyell2006]

As I lacked a workbench the past few months, I've been playing a Victorian-era colonial computer game, and now I have visions of protected cruisers and torpedo boat destroyers dancing in my head.  Are there any particularly recommended books on naval warfare and technology from 1860-1906?  What sort of miniatures are available for naval gaming of that era?

[Hupp n at em]

Out of curiosity, what computer game? I'd be interested in that information as well. 

[rebelyell2006]

Pride of Nations.  After three months of playing, I'm finally in 1887 and I can now built interesting ships.  Hence my curiosity of Victorian naval warfare and wargaming.

[Bryanbowdell]

Try :
War At Sea In The Ironclad Age (Cassell'S History Of Warfare)

you can get a second hand copy on Amazon for 1p (plus P+P).

it's an easy read and a good itnro book.

Cassell also do one about Gunboat warfare that is a very good read!!

[rebelyell2006]

That sounds like an interesting book.  Thanks for the recommendation.

[warrenpeace]

Sorry I didn't see this months old question earlier.

Take a look at "Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905" edited by Roger Chesneau, 1979. It's a bit pricey, but it probably has all the answers about individual warships and developments in that period. Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Conways-Worlds-Fighting-Ships-1860-1905/dp/0831703024

As for models, what part of the period are you interested in? There's plenty of ACW ship miniatures in a variety of different scales. As for late in the period, my first stop would be War Times Journal. WTJ has been well known for quality 1:3000 scale pewter castings. However, WTJ is now producing the best plastic 3d printed models in several different scales. Pick the ship, and then pick the scale you want it printed in:

http://www.wtj.com/store/index.html

The Miniatures Page (TMP) has a couple of different forums for discussion of the navies of this period and miniatures:

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/topics.mv?id=132

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/topics.mv?id=129

[jony663]

What are the best rules to go along with the pre-dreadnought period?