US Navy Light Cruisers 1941–45

by Stille, Mark; Wright, Paul

• ISBN13: 9781472811400
• ISBN10: 1472811402
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2016-07-19
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

During World War II, the United States built 72 light cruisers of various classes. In response to the severe air threat that surface ships faced, new cruisers were designed with increasingly heavy antiaircraft weaponry as well as the traditional six-inch guns. With the speed and range to keep up with aircraft carriers, and their considerable antiaircraft capability, they were a mainstay of the carrier escorts.

This book examines every US light cruiser produced, including those of the Fargo and Worcester classes--which were actually completed after World War II had ended--tracing their design, development, and evolution throughout the war and beyond.

Author Biography

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 has worked in the intelligence community for thirty years, including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff, and on US Navy ships. He is currently a senior analyst working in the Washington, D.C., area. He is the author of numerous Osprey titles focusing on naval history in the Pacific.