The World Encyclopedia of Cruisers

256 Seiten, gebunden, 660 Fotos, 297 x 228 mm,

The cruiser evolved from a variety of powered sailing warships, employed in independent operations. The impact of rapid technological advance during the Victorian era saw the cruiser quickly assume the familiar forms in which it fought with great distinction through two World Wars.

This impressive encyclopaedia is unique in charting the forces that brought about the cruisers evolution, as well as providing a comprehensive country-by-country visual directory of more than 260 of the most significant examples, spanning a period of nearly 150 years. From the Alabama of the American Civil War to the Royal Navy's last conventional cruisers, the Tigers, all the major ships are included.

The book opens with a section comprising two dozen topics selected to illustrate the technological development of the cruiser from about 1865 to the present day, together with accounts of some of the many uses to which the ships were dedicated. Progress is traced from ships with muzzle-loading, broadside armament, through casemates and turrets to the age of guided missiles.

The main part of the book consists of three country-by-country directory sections, each focusing on a particular time period: pre-World War I, World War I, then World War II. Within these directories the author not only describes but also defines each ship's significance and its relative success or failure as a design under service conditions.

Each entry is accompanied by a specification panel detailing a standard list of the most important parameters - the company that built the cruiser, the date of commissioning, displacement, length, beam, draught, armament, machinery, power, endurance, protection and crew numbers - making comparisons simple. Most examples are complemented by several pictures, each selected to illustrate major features and through-life alterations.

Containing as it does such a huge volume of information, together with a unique collection of more than 500 colour and black and white archive photographs, this book provides both enthusiasts and historians with everything they will want to know about the cruiser through its history. As well as being an essential reference, it also an exciting read for everyone interested in these great vessels, now largely a memory.