This volume features a full description of this armed cutter, its concept, origins, design details and wartime service. With over 100 perspective and 3-view drawings, accompanied by in-depth descriptive keys and photos, this revised edition features a large-scale plan of the vessel on the reverse of an extended fold-out jacket. A title in a series that has established a substantial following in its specialist field. 
 The Alert was one of many armed cutters that were used to supplement the British fleet between 1763 and 1835, and these small swift vessels were generally employed in minor roles such as conveying dispatches, routine patrol work and reconnaissance. Alert was constructed in Dover in 1777 an d was captured by the French in July 1778 while acting as escort for Keppel's fleet off Ushant. The 'Anatomy of the Ship' series aims to provide the finest documentation of individual ships and ship types ever published. What makes the series unique is a complete set of superbly executed line drawings, both the conventional type of plan as well as explanatory views, with fully descriptive keys. These are supported by technical details, photos and a record of the ship's service history.