Philip K. Allan

Philip K. Allan is the author of the award-winning Alexander Clay series of nautical fiction set in the Royal Navy of the late 18th century. He studied the 18th-century navy at the University of London and is a member of the Society for Nautical Research.

Articles by Philip K. Allan

The sloop-of-war Austin, flagship of the Second Texas Navy from 1840 to 1846, at sea. The ship appears to be experiencing Force 4 or 5 conditions—a “moderate” or “fresh” breeze—on the modern Beaufort Scale.

The Origins of the Beaufort Scale

By Philip K. Allan

April 2024

In the era before accurate charts were widely available, wind and weather records provided important information to aid navigation.

A long 12-pounder cannon on board the replica French frigate l’Hermione. Note the wheels that make traversing the barrel difficult.

Carronades: The Smashers

By Philip K. Allan

December 2023

Carronades were highly effective in the right circumstances, but their downsides were sometimes overlooked.

The Evolution of Frigates in the Age of Sail

By Philip K. Allan

April 2023

The word frigate originally was a generic term to describe any lightly armed, fast, and maneuverable warship.

A History of the Ship’s Compass

By Philip K. Allan

December 2022

Mechanical gyroscopes are beginning to be replaced by ring-laser or hemispherical-resonator ones, but most ships retain a traditional magnetic compass as a backup—just in case.

How the Propeller Displaced the Paddle Wheel

By Philip K. Allan

June 2022

The development of steam power in the 18th century was arguably one of the most important changes of its age. Shipbuilding, too, was part of this revolution.

The Evolution of Sails in 18th-Century Warships

By Philip K. Allan, author, Upon the Malabar Coast

February 2022

Prior to the introduction of steam power, warships were dependent on the wind and their sails to provide both power and the ability to maneuver in battle.

Command and Control in the Age of Sail

By Philip K. Allan, author, Upon the Malabar Coast

October 2021

As the sun rose on 21 October 1805, the most famous naval battle of the Age of Sail was about to begin off the southwest coast of Spain.

Anchors Aweigh

By Philip K. Allan, author, Sea of Wolves

June 2021

A look at the history and evolution of anchors.

HMS Cossack and Comet offload troops at Santander, Spain, on 23 June 1808.

The Duke of Wellington’s Navy

By Philip K. Allan

April 2021

As Napoleon’s forces became bogged down on the Iberian Peninsula, Wellington was able to bedevil them relentlessly thanks to the Royal Navy’s coastal dominance.

Scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of dietary ascorbic acid (vitamin C), debilitated sailors after just a few months at sea without fresh provisions. Citrus juice was discovered to cure the disease long before vitamin C was identified as the essential nutrient in the fruit.

Finding the Cure for Scurvy

By Philip K. Allan

February 2021

Scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of dietary ascorbic acid (vitamin C), debilitated sailors after just a few months at sea without fresh provisions.

The helm of the USS Constitution shows the characteristic features of ships’ wheels from the time before steam or electric motors controlled the rudder. Two wheels, separated by a winch barrel, allowed extra helmsmen to assist in heavy weather. The barrel is connected through the deck by a series of blocks and tackles to the tiller, which turns the rudder.

Steering with a Wheel

By Philip K. Allan

October 2020

Steering a ship with a wheel seems such a universal concept that it is hard to imagine a time when it was not done. But in fact, Columbus sailed the ...

A quartermaster takes a sun sighting from the navigation bridge of the USS Alaska (CB-1) in 1945.

Navigating to the Sextant

By Philip K. Allan

June 2020

The 20th-century sextant never fails to attract the attention of visitors, whether or not they have an interest in the sea.

Philip K. Allan

Articles by Philip K. Allan

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