title: The Naval Cutter Alert (Anatomy of the Ship)
author:  Peter Goodwin 
description: Features a detailed introduction with the development, history, construction, armament, rigging and other aspects described. More than 250 photographs, perspective and three-view line drawings with in-depth descriptive keys of virtually every detail of the ship based on the draught of the hull of the Rattlesnake, an identical cutter built by Farley at Folkstone. The British Naval Cutter Alert was one of fifteen cutters built for the British Navy during 1777 and 1778. She was launched on June 24, 1777. The following year, during a pursuit, the French frigate Junon took Alert, thus ending a short but successful career of the British Naval Cutter Alert, 1777. When Alert sailed on her first assignment under the French flag she met with some unknown misfortune, disappearing without a trace. The author of this work, Peter Goodwin, is a British maritime historian, and the former Keeper and Curator of HMS Victory. He has written eight books on ship construction and Britain's maritime heritage, specializing in the career and ships of Lord Nelson. Goodwin 'is widely acknowledged as one of the leading writers on the sailing warship.' Goodwin has also acted as a historical consultant, most notably on the 20th Century Fox film, 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,' inspired by Patrick O'Brian's series of Aubrey-Maturin novels, and the television adaptation of Hornblower, in which he made a brief cameo.
zlib_text: **“THAT MEANS THE** ** _DA VINCI_** **CAN PROBABLY STILL GET US OUT,” GOMEZ
  SAID. . . .**
  
    
    
  “Maybe,” Gold replied. “But first we need to make sure the ship won’t fall
  apart around us.” He turned his attention to the science station. “Soloman, do
  we have internal sensors? Can you give us a damage report?”  
    
  The Bynar keyed commands to the science console as his face was bathed in the
  soft blue light of the station’s viewfinder. Several moments passed as he
  reviewed the information supplied by the _Defiant_ ’s limited sensors.  
    
  “There are . . . hull breaches on decks eight, thirteen, and . . . fifteen,”
  he reported. “There is also some buckling . . . in the port warp nacelle.” As
  he turned away from the viewfinder, the Bynar added, “The damage is minor,
  given the . . . intensity of the attack, Captain. We were . . . most
  fortunate.”  
    
  Gomez sighed in relief. “I’ll say. If that’s the extent of the damage, then we
  should be okay even under the pull of the _da Vinci_ ’s tract