Super-Battleships of World War II

Montana-class, Lion-class, H-class, A-150 and Sovetsky Soyuz-class

Super-Battleships of World War II cover

Super-Battleships of World War II

Montana-class, Lion-class, H-class, A-150 and Sovetsky Soyuz-class

Description

An illustrated study of the design, development and eventual fates of the uncompleted super-battleships intended to be built before and during World War II.

Before the start of World War II, the battleship was still king, and all the major powers were designing even mightier battleships to surpass their most modern and powerful classes. But when war broke out, aircraft carriers would dominate naval warfare, and none of these monster warships would ever be completed.

In this book, naval expert Mark Stille uncovers these lost battleships as they are reconstructed with the help of superb new full-colour artwork and photos. The US Navy planned five Montana-class ships, based on the Iowas but with a heavier main battery and improved protection, while the Royal Navy began work on three 16in-gun Lion-class fast battleships. The German Navy began to develop its H-class designs, initially an improved Bismarck-class which became more fantastical, culminating in the 141,500-ton, 20in-gun H-44. The Japanese A-150 was based on the Yamato-class but with 20.1in guns, while the 15 ships planned for the USSR's Sovetsky Soyuz-class would have rivalled the Montanas in size.

Explaining the design, intended roles and fate of these ships, this is the story of the last super-battleship designs in history.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
BATTLESHIP DESIGN PRACTICES
Protection
Propulsion
Firepower
THE SUPER-BATTLESHIP CLASSES
The United States Navy – the Montana-class
The Royal Navy – the Lion-class
The Kriegsmarine – the H-class
The Imperial Japanese Navy – Design A-150
The Soviet Navy – the Sovetsky Soyuz - class
ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
FURTHER READING
INDEX

Product details

Published 22 Dec 2022
Format Ebook (Epub)
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781472846730
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Illustrated throughout with 40 photos and 8 pages of colour illustrations
Series New Vanguard
Short code NVG 314
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Mark Stille

Mark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey title…

Illustrator

Paul Wright

Paul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for mos…

Resources

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