US Heavy Cruisers 1943-75. Wartime and Post-War Classes/Тяжелые крейсера США 1943-75. Военные и послевоенные классы

Книга на английском языке
This book examines all the US Navy heavy cruisers built during and after World War II. This includes the largest class of heavy cruisers ever built, the 14-ship Baltimore class. Of these, only seven were commissioned in time to see service during World War II, but the entire class saw service during the Cold War and several went on to have distinguished combat careers during the Korean War and even the Vietnam War. Two ships of this class were extensively modified into the world’s first missile cruisers, before returning to serve as conventional gun cruisers, and another two finished their careers as missile cruisers after being rebuilt.
Closely related to the Baltimore class was the Oregon City class, which was comprised of three ships built to a modified design. These had virtually the same capabilities as the Baltimore class but were different enough to carry a new class name. The most powerful and largest heavy cruisers ever built were the three ships of the Des Moines class. These were designed around a rapid-fire 8in gun. One of these ships was not decommissioned until 1975, thus making it the last heavy cruiser to be active in any of the world’s navies.

Contents
Introduction
The changing role of the heavy cruiser
Us navy wartime heavy cruiser design
Heavy cruiser weapons
Main and Secondary Guns
Antiaircraft Guns
Radar
Postwar Heavy Cruiser Radars
The heavy cruiser classes
Baltimore class
Alaska class
Oregon City class
Des Moines class
Analysis and conclusion
Bibliography
Index