Destroyers: An Illustrated History of Their Impact tells the story of one of the most recent, rapidly evolving additions to the world's navies. Coverage ranges from the 1882 launch of the first destroyer, through the nonstop technical and strategic innovations of the world war eras, to the current high watermarks of destroyer design such as the Arleigh Burke class (named for the navy's most famous destroyer squadron combat commander).
This is an exploration of the technological evolution and social history of cruisers, describing their many uses in war and peace. The book covers the most significant cruiser and battle cruiser designs, providing details such as hull dimensions, armour, armament and means of propulsion.
Gordon Williamson describes the design and development of these two deadly opponents, their strengths and weaknesses and of their tactics, weaponry and training. He provides an insight into the lives of the Allied Navy and Wolf Pack crews as they played their deadly games of cat and mouse on the high seas, gambling not only with their lives but with the fate of their nations.
From ancient times to World War II and the postwar period, Battleships charts the evolution of the vessel that ruled the seas-a vessel that, until the arrival of the aircraft carrier, would be the most expensive and complex human-made moving object in history.
