Super-Battleships of World War II: Montana-class, Lion-class, H-class, A-150 and Sovetsky Soyuz-class

by Mark Stille, Paul Wright (Illustrator)

Overview

An illustrated study of the design, development and eventual fates of the uncompleted super-battleships intended to be built before and during World War II.

Before the start of World War II, the battleship was still king, and all the major powers were designing even mightier battleships to surpass their most modern and powerful classes. But when war broke out, aircraft carriers would dominate naval warfare, and none of these monster warships would ever be completed.

In this book, naval expert Mark Stille uncovers these lost battleships as they are reconstructed with the help of superb new full-colour artwork and photos. The US Navy planned five Montana-class ships, based on the Iowas but with a heavier main battery and improved protection, while the Royal Navy began work on three 16in-gun Lion-class fast battleships. The German Navy began to develop its H-class designs, initially an improved Bismarck-class which became more fantastical, culminating in the 141,500-ton, 20in-gun H-44. The Japanese A-150 was based on the Yamato-class but with 20.1in guns, while the 15 ships planned for the USSR's Sovetsky Soyuz-class would have rivalled the Montanas in size.

Explaining the design, intended roles and fate of these ships, this is the story of the last super-battleship designs in history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472846723
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	12/20/2022
Series:	New Vanguard , #314
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	377,194
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Mark Stille (Commander, United States Navy, retired) received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College. He has worked in the intelligence community for 35 years, including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff and on US Navy ships. He is currently a senior analyst working in the Washington DC area. He is the author of numerous Osprey titles, focusing on naval history in the Pacific.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

BATTLESHIP DESIGN PRACTICES

Protection

Propulsion

Firepower

THE SUPER-BATTLESHIP CLASSES

The United States Navy – the Montana-class

The Royal Navy – the Lion-class

The Kriegsmarine – the H-class

The Imperial Japanese Navy – Design A-150

The Soviet Navy – the Sovetsky Soyuz - class

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

FURTHER READING

INDEX

Editorial Reviews

"Excellent. Chosen as their Book of the Month." - Ships Monthly

From the Publisher