U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History

by Norman Friedman

Book Overview

The Norman Friedman Illustrated Design History series of U.S. warships books has been an industry standard for three decades and has sold thousands of copies worldwide. To mark and celebrate this achievement, the Naval Institute Press is proud to make these books available once more. Digitally remastered for enhanced photo resolution and quality, corrected, and updated, this series will continue to serve--for scholars and enthusiasts alike--as the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1682477592
• ISBN13: 9781682477595
• Release Date: November 2021
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 4.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 8.7" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

THE complete History of US Cruisers

Everything you ever would want to know about US cruisers history, development and use is captured here. Excellent B & W photos, line drawings, cut-aways, charts, tables, data - its all here from 1883 to 1984. Friedman is a naval expert and written other equally good books on US Battleships, Carriers, Destroyers and Subs. The best attraction to these works is not just a simple listing of facts, but Friedman shows why certain decisions were made. Every ship has to compromise speed, protection and firepower. The US General Board (those in charge of deciding what would be built) knew this, got feedback from our Admirals, studied other naval designs, wargames and created a line of ships that were lighter, cheaper than battleships, but capable of protecting carriers and giving shore bombardment. The impact of the naval treaties signed with Japan are discussed, as well as the changes made due to war experience. Things I wish had been improved - the author tries to show changes in the ships with a B & W photo with white circles on it and a caption. These can be confusing to someone who is not an expert at all things naval. The book was published in 1984 - I wish there were more chapters to bring it up to date. I am extremely pleased with this book. I have referenced it many times and learn something new every time I read it. It is an excellent resource for any serious naval buffs, for those who love the technical data, for anyone who wants to learn all about US Cruisers. A must have on your shelf.

excellent work

Excellent work,only to be equalled by Eric Lacroix on Japanese Cruisers. forget the other titels if you want to know more about the subject. I would very much like to see Mr Friedman covering British Battleships and Cruisers as well. Joris-Jan,The Netherlands

American Cruisers: the designs from beginning to end

The American cruiser was an odd ship for the United States Navy. The cruisers most Americans know of are the "Treaty Cruisers" which first started with the Pennsicola class (or egg shells armed with hammers) and the cruiser class ended with the USS Long Beach, the first and last true missle cruiser for the US Navy.Dr. Friedman makes it clear the first cruisers were inspired by the old American civil war frigates. The first cruisers were designed as commerice raiders, scouts, and minor capital ships. This is not much different than the initial days of the US Navy in the 1790 era.However, the US Navy takes a different view of the Spanish American war and produces a group of post-war cruisers that have interesting design characterists. They are slower, more expensive, and have greater weight than foreign ships. American cruiser design goes into a sort of hybernation from about 1906 until 1918 when the Omaha class is invented. American cruisers in WWI were left over ships from the Spanish American war or oddly designed ships, such as the over gunned & over armored USS Pennsylvania & Tennessee class armored cruisers.The Treaty cruisers of the 20s and 30s are the halcyon days of cruisers. Actually, a proper technical term for cruisers are "small, light, very fast battleships". Dr. Friedman writes that none of the Treaty cruisers are bad designs. Yes, there is stability problems but that is from treaty limits on warship weight and not from bad designs from the US Navy. Indeed, the Cleveland & Baltimore class cruisers are some of the most outstanding designed cruisers from WWII. The incorporation of the Combat Information Center (CIC) was the point where the US Navy was able to integrate the full use of ships, weapons, command, and control and beat the Japanese navy in every battle post 1943.The cruiser mission largely died after WWII. Basically, most of the cruisers were either converted to missile cruisers, a job that was taken over by the later frigates. Else, cruisers were used for shore bombardment. Dr. Friedman takes a reader from the start of the New Navy, the 1900s era of cruisers, the treaty cruisers, the war production cruisers (basically, improved Brooklyns), the non-treaty cruisers which become the Alaska battlecruisers (the only new battlecruisers made during WWII), the post war cruisers, and ends the book on cruisers with a near chapter devoted to the Long Beach. It's almost with sadness that Dr. Friedman writes that the augmented Spruance destroyer - the Ticonderga class cruiser - is a successor to the real cruiser. The destroyer & the frigate have taken over the job of the cruiser. And the true cruiser had been with the United States Navy since its inception back in the founding days of the republic.Yes, this book is 10 out of 10. A novice will go away with a understanding of Cruisers. A Navy man will appreciate his roots.Dr. Friedman is one of the best writers of technical material in America. If you buy this

Great reference and excellent read!

Part of an amazing series (Battleships, Destoryers etc.), this book captures the history of the Cruiser in the US Navy.The discussions of evolution of Cruiser design through each class, along with a discussion of the external factors in the design (the Washington Treaty, budget, Navel Politics...) is fasinating. Any Big ship/big gun fan will return to this book over and over again. The photos are incredable, especially when you have the pre war config, early wartime config, battle damage and analysis, and detailed photos of refit.This book goes a long way in helping to undrestand the weeknesses of US Cruiser design that contributed to many of the problems faced early in the war, and the changes made as a result. Not being a Naval Officer, much of the thought processes involved in trading armor for speed or guns, stability issues, and armerment mix were a mystery. This book makes sense of these issues, and provides a look into elements of the Navy one might otherwise never consider.A must for anyone seriously interested in warships!

U.S. Cruisers: An illustrated Design History

If you are a cruiser fan throw away all of your other reference books and get this one. The book traces the history of the U.S. cruiser and it's development with great pictures, drawings and charts. Every class of cruiser is treated in detail with particular emphasis on the many WW2 classes and variations. Especially intresting is the detail given to the modificiations of pre Dec.7 1941 ships after experience in fighting those ships. If you are a modeler this book will be of great assistance in getting the detail you want on any particular ship. The book is worth every penny of the cost. I strongly reccomend for any admirer of some of the most beautiful ships this country has ever produced.