Designed with little more than a passing nod to the international naval treaties of the inter-war period, the Imperial Japanese Navy's heavy cruisers were fast and heavily armed.
Like the other vessels of the Japanese Navy, the heavy cruisers were technologically superior to and far more innovative than their Allied rivals, whom they met in many of the major Pacific Theatre battles, including Midway and Leyte Gulf.
Mark Stille continues his study of the IJN of WWII with this fascinating topic, addressing the design and development of all 18 ships in the six heavy cruiser classes, from pre-war construction and mid-war alterations, to their operational histories and eventual fates.
Introduction
Japanese naval strategy and the role of the heavy cruiser
Japanese heavy cruiser doctrine
Japanese heavy cruiser design and development and impact of the Washington and London Naval Treaties
Japanese heavy cruiser weapons
Japanese heavy cruiser radar
The Heavy Cruiser Classes
Furutaka Class
Aoba Class
Myoko Class
Takao Class
Mogami Class
Tone Class
Analysis and Conclusion
Produktdetaljer
Om bidragsyterne
Mark E. Stille (Commander, United States Navy, retired) received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College. He worked in the intelligence community for nearly 40 years. He is the author of numerous Osprey titles, focusing on naval history in the Pacific. He is also the author of several wargames.
Paul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for most of his career, specializing in steel and steam warships from the late 19th century to the present day. He is a Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists and has illustrated the works of Patrick O’Brian, Dudley Pope and C.S. Forester amongst others.