I am currently reading 'Fire Ice'. I wonder if the author has any plans to correct the historical inaccuracy quoted in that book.

In Chapter 32 he says " Welcome to Old Ironsides, the oldest commissioned warship in the world ..."

He goes on to say "... launched in 1797."

In point of fact the oldest commissioned warship in the world is the Royal Navy's HMS Victory.

I quote below from the official HMS Victory website ( http://www.hms-victory.com/ ):

"HMS Victory stands today as the world's oldest commissioned warship. Still manned by Officers and Ratings of the Royal Navy, the Victory has seen over 200 years of almost continuous service.

Launched in 1765 at Chatham Dockyard, the Victory was commissioned in 1778 and continued in active service for the next 32 years. In 1812 the Victory was retired from frontline duty and anchored in Portsmouth Harbour, on the south coast of England."

Thus, the Victory was commissioned some 19 years before the Old Ironsides was even built.

Does Cussler have any plans to correct this inaccuracy?

No, while it appears that your facts are correct.

Hey if you are a stickler for accuracy, I don't recommend that you read Fiction Books.

If you want to read Fiction, then just sit back and enjoy the ride, and read the book for the enjoyment of the story, and don't worry about the historical accuracy.

There are plenty of other errors in the Cussler books, but the majority of his fans became fans because Cussler is the Master of Adventure, and spins an incredible story.

And this post was not intended to offend anyone who's sensitive... just the simple facts.

I'm sure it was just an oversight on Dr. C's part. Often history is rewritten by the winners or political leaders. Our history books are written by a committee and hopefully someday that practice will end. Two maybe three people at most should write history books than a committee of education specialists.