The greatest loss ever suffered by the US Navy in any war was a battle between Japanese and US Cruiser forces at Savo Island around Guadalcanal in 1942. It was here that the most hard fought struggles between the US Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy were to occur. It was a test of the principles of cruiser construction and operation that were put down over the previous twenty years.

These cruisers were what is known as 'Treaty Ships' developed at a time when it was felt that a limit on the size and number of ships would prevent an all out spiraling of weapons costs amongst those nations who were involved. It is with these ships that the US and Japan went to war.

In this edition, author Mark Stille looks at the design and development of these ships on both sides. Then there is the strategic situation that caused each side to plan for a specific type of ship. We then get a look at the technical specifications of each class of ship and how these ships differed as newer designs were developed. Of course, the Japanese and American navy saw their ships being used differently from each other with the Japanese concentrating on night attacks and the heavy use of torpedoes, something the American navy did not see as important. Then of course, there are the battles. Two of the more important early war engagements at Savo Island and Tassafaronga are studied in some depth showing how these ships were used. In line with other volumes in this series, there is a look at the stats and analysis of these events as well as a look at how each force of ships managed to do during the war.

In all, a superlative inclusion to this series. It is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and is one that I know you will find a delight as well.

October 2009

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