US Navy Atlanta-class Light Cruisers 1940-49 - (9781472866523)
In the late 1930s, the US Navy created a class of small, light cruisers intended as a versatile destroyer leader. The Atlantas could provide antiaircraft support, lead and launch torpedo attacks, serve as antisubmarine vessels, and outgun other light warships in a surface engagement. The wartime reality was different. In every surface action they fought, they found themselves pitted against bigger cruisers (or even battleships) instead of the destroyers they were designed to defeat.
In this book, naval historian Mark Lardas explains that despite their flaws, they proved one of the most useful warships in the US Navy: with a main battery of sixteen 5in guns, they proved to be superb antiaircraft cruisers. From the battle of Midway onwards, they protected the Navy's most valuable ships - its aircraft carriers - so effectively that later Atlantas were built to a modified design as specialist antiaircraft ships. The Navy even ordered a follow-on class postwar and considered building a "super-Atlanta," armed only with heavy antiaircraft gun.
Packed with illustrations, this book examines the history, development, and modifications of these unusual warships, and their impact on the Pacific War.
Features
- 48 pages
- Illustrated throughout
- Softcover
- Book dimensions are 10" x 7"
In the late 1930s, the US Navy created a class of small, light cruisers intended as a versatile destroyer leader. The Atlantas could provide antiaircraft support, lead and launch torpedo attacks, serve as antisubmarine vessels, and outgun other light warships in a surface engagement. The wartime reality was different. In every surface action they fought, they found themselves pitted against bigger cruisers (or even battleships) instead of the destroyers they were designed to defeat.
In this book, naval historian Mark Lardas explains that despite their flaws, they proved one of the most useful warships in the US Navy: with a main battery of sixteen 5in guns, they proved to be superb antiaircraft cruisers. From the battle of Midway onwards, they protected the Navy's most valuable ships - its aircraft carriers - so effectively that later Atlantas were built to a modified design as specialist antiaircraft ships. The Navy even ordered a follow-on class postwar and considered building a "super-Atlanta," armed only with heavy antiaircraft gun.
Packed with illustrations, this book examines the history, development, and modifications of these unusual warships, and their impact on the Pacific War.
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Atlanta Class Light Cruisers
A type of ship, in my opinion, that the USN didn’t want and therefore didn’t have a clear mission for. I don’t agree with the author’s premise that they were to be destroyer leaders that morphed into anti-aircraft cruisers. They were never in a position to be a counter to Japanese destroyers and they were shunted into the AA role just to utilize them for something. It’s a mystery that the USN continued to build them. There are errors of fact in the book, for example, the Mahan class destroyers didn’t have eight guns. There isn’t much info on ship design or anything detailed about them at First Guadalcanal and the damage they incurred. Not a bad book but if you’re interested in these ships don’t let this book be your only source.
