Pen and Sword Books: British Cruisers by Norman Friedman

British Cruisers (8 reviews)

From Treaties to the Present

Norman Friedman
Found in: Naval: Iron & Steel
All Seaforth Books
Hardback 320 pages
ISBN: 9781848320789

Published: 24 January 2011

£45.00

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For most of the twentieth century Britain possessed both the world’s largest merchant fleet and its most extensive overseas territories. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Royal Navy always showed a particular interest in the cruiser – a multi-purpose warship needed in large numbers to defend trade routes and police the empire. Above all other types, the cruiser’s competing demands of quality and quantity placed a heavy burden on designers, and for most of the inter-war years Britain sought to square this circle through international treaties restricting both size and numbers. In the process she virtually invented the heavy cruiser and inspired the large 6in-armed cruiser, neither of which, ironically, served her best interests. For the first time this book seeks to comprehend the full policy background, from which a different and entirely original picture emerges of British cruiser development.

After the war the cruiser’s role was reconsidered and the final chapters of the book cover modernisations, the plans for missile-armed ships and the convoluted process that turned the ‘through-deck cruiser’ into the Invincible class light carriers. With detailed appendices of ship data, and illustrated in depth with photos and A D Baker’s specially commissioned plans, British Cruisers truly matches the lofty standards set by Friedman’s previous books on British destroyers.

This is a sumptuous volume, providing a most authoritative and comprehensive review of British cruisers in the twentieth century. The book is beautifully laid out to Seaforth's traditional high standard. An excellent book which is... [read full review]

Scuttlebutt

This is a book for the specialist ship enthusiast or serious naval historian, and its worth having.

FLAGSHIP MAGAZINE

This is a sumptuous volume, providing a most authoritative and comprehensive review of British cruisers in the twentieth century"

The book is beautifully laid out to Seaforth's traditional high standard"

An excellent book,... [read full review]

John Roberts, Scuttlebutt

...This book provides an authoritative account of British cruisers during the inter-war years and charts the enormous impact radio had on the design and operations of British Cruisers..."

...With extensive appendices on ship data,... [read full review]

The Nautical Magazine

During the first 60 years of the twentieth century the United Kingdom possessed the worlds larest merchant fleet and a large number of overseas territories. In this magnificent book, Norman Friedman explores fully the policy... [read full review]

Marine News

A very valuable volume for anyone interested in the history and development of the warships of the 20th century.

Roger Marsh, Ships in Scale

For anyone interested in Naval history this book is packed with interesting facts

Royal Naval Sailing Association Jorunal

British History has been steeped in the naval ever since Britain became the most formidable power at sea during the twentieth century and British Cruisers doesn't look like changing that pattern. Britain may have commanded... [read full review]

JB (Customer Review)

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