During the Civil War, the US Navy was one of the largest in the world. However, in the aftermath of the war, much was allowed to deteriorate or retired without replacement. By the 1880s, the US Navy was but a ghost of its former self as the nation's attention was drawn inward. These times were one of rampant European Imperalist expansion into area of the Far East and Pacific. It was pretty obvious that the US was not going to be one with its 26 ship Navy, of which only four had metal hulls.

In 1881, the then Secretary of the Navy , William Hunt, encouraged president Chester Arthur that something had to be done. The treasury enjoyed a surplus of funds and so it was that plans were made to start building a modern, steel hulled Navy.

These early ships were not totally weaned from sail power, requiring the wind to help as the US had no coaling stations around the world as did other powers. Naturally, there were problems, as US industry was not set up for steel hulled warships. It was through the construction of early cruisers, albeit from British designs at first, that American steel and weapons industry learned what was need to build world-class warships.

Thanks to the construction of armored cruisers during this time period, the US Navy emerged as a leader in design and construction of modern warships.

The author takes us through all the various ships built during this time period, highlighting the various design features of the ships being built at that time. Both positive and negative features of these ships are covered in some detail with these sections divided into each year's build authorizations.

There is then a section on these ships in action, which is basically the two major battles of the Spanish-American War at Manila Bay and Santiago. It was thanks to these events that the US was able to gain overseas possessions and the coaling stations so needed by a modern, ocean-going navy.

A section on the living conditions aboard these ships is followed by an in-depth look at one of the best and somewhat unique ships of this class, the USS Olympia, the only ship of this class still afloat.  A full history of the Olympia is also provided, showing that this ship had a long and distinguished career.

In addition to the superb period photographs of these vessels, there is the artwork of Ian Palmer and John White to further enhance the experience of reading this book. It makes for a well rounded publication and a book that I can most highly recommend to you.

June 2008

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