U.S. Cruisers

Friedman, N: 1985 Arms and Armours USA, hardcover with dustjacket 496 pages, with photos and ship plans. Norman Friedman’s U.S. Cruisers; An Illustrated Design History traces the conception, design evolution, and policy-technical tradeoffs of every U.S. Navy cruiser, from early protected and treaty-limited types through the World War II classes and postwar guided-missile conversions, using extensive archival sources, photos, and line drawings to explain why each design choice was made. Emphasizing design rationale over operational narrative, the book systematically covers both built and unbuilt projects, showing how treaties, wartime experience, and advancing fire control, propulsion, and missile technology shaped cruiser development across the 20th century. ISBN 9780870217180 / 0870217186 in good condition