The Modern Cruiser: The Evolution of the Ships that Fought the Second World War

Robert C. Stern traces the evolution of cruisers, one of the most important warship classes, from World War II technology into the missile age. Cruisers varied more in their characteristics than any other warship type and underwent convoluted development across the world's major navies. Naval powers faced constant tension between building larger numbers of ships versus fewer, higher-quality vessels, and each nation made different demands of their cruiser designers. This book provides a twentieth-century history of cruisers in major navies. It begins with pre-World War I development and notable cruiser actions during that conflict that shaped post-war design. The core focuses on the naval disarmament treaty process, which attempted to limit cruiser numbers and size, creating the "treaty cruiser" as a type that existed solely because of these treaties. The book examines how treaty-era cruisers performed in World War II and concludes with the cruiser's fate since 1945. It offers a comprehensive single-volume account of cruiser development and service.