Nicknamed "Old Ironsides" after a 30-minute engagement with the British HMS Guerriere in 1812, the USS Constitution is the subject of this close-up view. In a manner popular in aviation publications, but here applied to ships, The Anatomy of the Ship series presents precisely executed line drawings, both the three-view type of plan as well as perspective views, with descriptive keys. An introductory essay and a chronology explain the ship's place in history. Further narrative discussing design details is followed by a section of photos and then the heart of the book, the drawings section. A list of sources and a bibliography round out the presentation. The inside of the jacket displays a 1/150 scale fold-out plan. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)