Before The Battlecruiser: A Christmas present to myself

Every so often I read a book review and think to myself 'I'd really like a copy of that book' ... and BEFORE THE BATTLECRUISER: THE BIG CRUISER IN THE WORLD'S NAVIES 1865 – 1910 fell into that category! so I treated myself to a copy.

Besides a preface, introduction, and two appendices, the book is divided into two parts. The first part tells the story of the development and operational use of the armoured cruiser, and the second gives the technical specification, plan and side elevation drawings of each class, and individual service histories of each armoured cruiser.

Part 1: The Rise and Fall of the Big Cruiser

1. Genesis
2. The Steam and Sail Era
3. A New Beginning
4. The Golden Age
5. The Final Generation
6. Trial by Combat
7. The Long Dying
8. Retrospect

Part II: Technical and Career Data

1. Argentina
2. Austria-Hungary
3. Chile
4. France
5. Germany
6. Greece
7. Italy
8. Japan
9. Russia
10. Spain
11. Sweden
12. United Kingdom
13. United States

The book not only matched my expectations, it exceeded them, and I thoroughly recommend it.

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BEFORE THE BATTLECRUISER: THE BIG CRUISER IN THE WORLD'S NAVIES 1865 – 1910 was written by Aidan Dodson and published by Seaforth Publishing (ISBN 978 1 4738 9216 3).