Confederate Raider 1861-65

The Confederate states adopted radical solutions to counter the naval superiority of their opponents. One of the more successful solutions they adopted was the use of commerce raiders. This book describes the reasons which forced the Confederates to resort to commerce raiding, and outlines the way in which these craft were converted or specially built to perform their role. It details not only the way these craft were operated and manned, but also their brutal attacks, daring escapes and climatic battles against the large numbers of Union warships forced to hunt them down.

Angus Konstam hails from the Orkney Islands and is the author of over 20 books for Osprey. His other maritime titles include Campaign 103: Hampton Roads 1862, New Vanguard 41: Confederate Ironclad 1861–65 and New Vanguard 56: Union River Ironclad 1861–65. Formerly the Curator of Weapons in the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London, he also served as the Chief Curator of the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. He is now based in London, where he combines a freelance museum consultancy business with a career as a historian and writer.