US Heavy Cruisers 1941–45

Pre-war Classes

US Heavy Cruisers 1941–45 cover

Description

American Navy cruisers built prior to World Wat II saw extensive action throughout the Pacific War, in both surface actions like Guadalcanal, and carrier battles like Midway.

Designed and produced under the regulations of the Washington Naval Treaty, the heavy cruisers of the Pensacola, Northampton, Portland, New Orleans and Wichita classes were exercises in compromise. While they possessed very heavy armament, the Pensacolas, for example, carrying a main battery of ten 8" guns, this came at the cost of protection - armor was the same thickness as a gun cruiser, and incapable of protecting the vessels from enemy 8" fire. As the classes evolved, these flaws began to be corrected, with the main battery being reduced, and increased protection being added to the vital areas of the ship. Despite these drawbacks, the pre-war heavy cruiser classes served with distinction throughout World War II.

Table of Contents

Introduction/ US naval strategy and the role of the heavy cruiser/ US heavy cruiser design and development and impact of the Washington and London Naval Treaties/ Armament/ Radar/ The Heavy Cruiser Classes/ Analysis and Conclusion

Product details

Published Apr 22 2014
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781782006299
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series New Vanguard
Short code NVG 210
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…

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