BRIAN LANE HERDER
u003cpu003eu003cbu003eExplores the history of the US Navy's 11 new steel warships, built during the late 19th century to advance American naval supremacy.u003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eAfter the American Civil War, the powerful US Navy was allowed to decay into utter decrepitude, and was becoming a security liability. In 1883, Congress approved four new steel-constructed vessels called the ABCD ships. The three protected cruisers u003ciu003eAtlantau003c/iu003e, u003ciu003eBostonu003c/iu003e, and u003ciu003eChicagou003c/iu003e were the first steel warships built for the US Navy, whose 1880s1890s technological and cultural transformation was so total it is now remembered as the New Navy. This small fleet was joined by a succession of new and distinctive protected cruisers, culminating in the famous and powerful u003ciu003eOlympiau003c/iu003e. These 11 protected cruisers formed the backbone of the early US steel navy, and were in the frontline of the US victory in the 1898 Spanish-American War. It was these warships that fought and won the decisive Battle of Manila Bay. These cruisers also served faithfully as escorts and auxiliaries in World War I before the last were retired in the 1920s.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eWritten by experienced US naval researcher Brian Lane Herder, and including rare photographs, this book explores the development, qualities, and service of these important warships, and highlights the almost-forgotten Columbia-class, designed as high-speed commerce raiders, and to mimic specific passenger liners. All 11 protected cruisers are depicted in meticulously researched color illustrations with one depicting the u003ciu003eOlympiau003c/iu003e deploying her full sail rig.u003c/pu003e
