British Heavy Cruisers 1939–45 (New Vanguard) (Paperback)
Other Books in Series
This is book number 190 in the New Vanguard series.
- #42: British Napoleonic Ship-of-the-Line (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $16.15
- #45: Union Monitor 1861–65 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #49: Mississippi River Gunboats of the American Civil War 1861–65 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #56: Union River Ironclad 1861–65 (New Vanguard #56) (Paperback): $17.00
- #64: Confederate Raider 1861–65 (New Vanguard #64) (Paperback): $17.00
- #70: The Pirate Ship 1660–1730 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $16.15
- #74: British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939–45 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $16.15
- #88: British Battlecruisers 1939–45 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #96: Spanish Galleon 1530–1690 (New Vanguard #96) (Paperback): $17.00
- #103: Confederate Submarines and Torpedo Vessels 1861–65 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #142: Tudor Warships (1): Henry VIII’s Navy (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #149: Tudor Warships (2): Elizabeth I’s Navy (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #160: British Battleships 1939–45 (2): Nelson and King George V Classes (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $16.15
- #166: British Motor Gun Boat 1939–45 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $16.15
- #181: Yangtze River Gunboats 1900–49 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $16.15
- #183: Warships of the Anglo-Dutch Wars 1652–74 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #194: British Light Cruisers 1939–45 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $16.15
- #200: British Battleships 1914–18 (1): The Early Dreadnoughts (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #204: British Battleships 1914–18 (2): The Super Dreadnoughts (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #221: Gunboats of World War I (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $15.26
- #226: Commonwealth Cruisers 1939–45 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $15.26
- #239: Nile River Gunboats 1882–1918 (New Vanguard) (Paperback): $17.00
- #246: British Destroyers 1939–45: Pre-war classes (New Vanguard #246) (Paperback): $17.00
- #319: British Frigates and Escort Destroyers 1939–45 (New Vanguard #319) (Paperback): $17.00
- #328: Warships in the War of the Pacific 1879–83: South America's ironclad naval campaign (New Vanguard #328) (Paperback): $17.00
- #330: British Lend-Lease Warships of World War II: Destroyers and frigates (New Vanguard #330) (Paperback): $17.00
Description
The idea of a heavy cruiser emerged in the aftermath of the First World War, and was closely linked to the limits set by the inter-war Washington Treaty on naval armament. The pre-Great War concept of armoured cruisers had been abandoned, but in their stead the Admiralty saw a place for powerful cruisers, able to patrol the sea lanes of the British Empire, and which were well-enough armed that they could destroy enemy commerce cruisers of the kind used by the Germans in the last war.
The result was a group of British warships which were collectively known as the "Washington Treaty Cruisers", which did everything the Admiralty wanted, but which fitted within the limits imposed by the Washington Treaty - an armament of 8-inch guns, and a displacement of less than 10,000 tons. These impressive cruisers were high-sided, spacious and stately - perfect peacetime ambassadors for British power.
In war they also packed a considerable punch. While they all carried powerful 8-inch guns, they were also given an effective armoured belt, making them proof against any foreign cruisers then in service. During the Second World War the Royal Navy's thirteen heavy cruisers saw service in every theatre of war, whether taking part in major sea battles in the Mediterranean, delivering the coup de grace to the Bismarck in the North Atlantic, or enduring the unwanted attention of kamikaze pilots in the Pacific.
About the Author
Angus Konstam hails from Orkney, off the north of Scotland, and is the author of well over 100 history books, 75 of which are published by Osprey. He has written widely on naval history from The Pirate World to his most recent works, Hunt the Bismarck and Mutiny on the Spanish Main, both published by Osprey. A former naval officer, he has worked as a museum curator in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London and the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a former Chair of the Society of Authors in Scotland. Now a full-time author and historian, he has returned to live in Orkney.
Paul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for most of his career, specializing in steel and steam warships from the late 19th century to the present day. Paul's art has illustrated the works of Patrick O'Brian, Dudley Pope and C.S. Forester amongst others, and hangs in many corporate and private collections all over the world. A Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Paul lives and works in Surrey.
Praise For…
“...enthusiasts will find his pithy précis an excellent introduction to this spellbinding subject.” —David L. Veres, www.cybermodeler.com
