340 US NAVY ATLANTA-CLASS LIGHT CRUISERS 1940-49

1-995340

A comprehensively illustrated account of the Atlanta-class cruisers, warships that found a surprising key role in the Pacific War as the US Navy's superb antiaircraft warships. Examines the history, development, and modifications of these unusual warships and their impact on the Pacific War. Explains that, despite their flaws, they proved one of the most useful warships in the US Navy: with a main battery of sixteen 5-inch guns, they proved to be superb antiaircraft cruisers. From the battle of Midway onward, they protected the Navy's aircraft carriers so effectively that later Atlantas were built to a modified design as specialist antiaircraft ships. Contains illustrations throughout with 40 photos and 8 pages of color illustrations.