Fast cruisers, the eyes of the fleet, were the standard-bearers of empire, the ultimate warships of gunboat diplomacy―no other vessel class was so well equipped to serve as both a working war machine and a projection of national might.
• Covers the most significant cruiser and battle cruiser designs, providing details such as hull dimensions, armor, armament, means of propulsion, and crew complement
• Discusses in an introductory chapter the general history of cruisers from the 18th century to the present including the development and importance of cruisers as they evolved