The Battleship Holiday

The Naval Treaties and Capital Ship Design

Hardcover $14.08
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Overview

Available for sale only in the U.S. and Canada. Exceptions made for USNI Members.

Even as World War I was ending, the victorious great powers were already embarked on a potentially ruinous new naval arms race, competing to incorporate the wartime lessons and technology into ever-larger and costlier capital ships. This competition was curtailed by the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which effectively banned the construction of such ships for years to come, and mandated the scrapping of those under construction. This “holiday” was to have profound effects on design when battleship building was renewed in the 1930s, as later international agreements continued to restrict size and firepower.

This book investigates the implications of these treaties on technical developments. An analysis of how well these modern ships stood the test of war concludes this intriguing and original contribution to the literature.

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

“This book is a very useful and comprehensive summary of the sixty year ‘battleship era’ that ran roughly from 1895 to 1955…. Extensively researched and documented, it is comprehensive and absolutely fascinating for any naval history enthusiast.” —Workboat World
"This book is a very useful and comprehensive summary of the sixty year 'battleship era' that ran roughly from 1895 to 1955.... Extensively researched and documented, it is comprehensive and absolutely fascinating for any naval history enthusiast." Workboat World
"Stern provides a fresh and highly technical assessment of the pinnacle of naval warship design." —Naval War College Review
"Very well illustrated, The Battleship Holiday is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the final age of the big gun warship." —StrategyPage
The Battleship Holiday is lavishly illustrated with a fine selection of photographs and line drawings. It has been extensively researched, drawing on a wide range of both primary and secondary sources. Robert Stern is a well-informed writer, with a particularly fine grasp of the technical aspects of his subject.” —Warship