US Heavy Cruisers 1943–75 Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | November 2014 | Title | US Heavy Cruisers 1943–75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Mark Stille | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2014 | ISBN | 9781782006329 |
| Format | 48 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $17.95 |
Review
Mark Stille completes his survey of American World War II heavy cruisers with US Heavy Cruisers 1943–75: Wartime and Post-war Classes – 214th installment in Osprey's extensive "New Vanguard" series.
Introductory notes recap heavy cruiser functions, wartime designs, onboard weapons and radar.
From 1943 on, American heavy cruisers were tasked with two major roles: "shore bombardment" and "anti-aircraft screening of carrier forces". And reflecting combat lessons, wartime classes incorporated rapid-firing 8in guns in a new turret with "individually sleeved weapons" placed further apart.
Coverage then courses through three heavy and one "super heavy" classes:
- Baltimore
- Oregon City
- Des Moines
- Alaska
Color profiles and action paintings offer plenty of modeling inspiration. Photos, charts, extended captions and selected bibliography augment author Stille's admirably indexed effort. And a helpful "analysis and conclusion" complete contents.
Like its companion compendium, US Heavy Cruisers 1943–75 ably recaps a fascinating topic.
Recommended.
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!