Category: Ship types: Class lists

An immensely readable scholarly history of the battleship in the twentieth century, covering WW1, the inter-war years and WW2 in equal measure

A well illustrated popular history which covers well worn ground. It looks at British, US and Japanese development in turn before considering carrier based actions.

The ultimate battleship reference book detailing designs, technical data, and histories. A second edition was published in 1996. A third, larger and much more heavily revised edition was published as Conway's Battleships in 2008 by Conway and also the Naval Institute Press.

A sparse work arranged by country with representative boats of each class a good photo and some sparse details.

Covers every class of cruiser operated or planned by the Allies, with some discussion of design and notes on the fate of individual ships.

An illustrated technical guide to the classes of battleship of the principal belligerent countries.

Arranged by country and class, there are over 250 photographs and drawings. A good modern work.

Arranged by country and class, this comprehensively illustrated study is based on the proven style of his earlier work on destroyers.

Arranged by country and class, this comprehensively illustrated study is a model work by an expert.

An evocative study of these specially constructed ships which contributed enormously to the winning of the Atlantic Battle.

FRIEDMAN, Norman. Battleship Design and Development, 1905–1945. 176p., illus., index. Greenwich: Conway, 1978; New York: Mayflower, 1979. ISBN: 0851771351.

A technical rather than operational book, concerned with the ability of designers to meet the various requirements of politicians and admirals.

FRIEDMAN, Norman. Carrier Air Power. 192p., bibliog., illus., index. Greenwich: Conway; Annapolis: NIP, 1981. ISBN:  0851772161.

A major review of the evolution and performance of carriers and their aircraft. Has useful comparative data.

KAPLAN, Philip. Battleships WWII: Evolution of the Big Guns. Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War). 144p., illus. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2015. ISBN: 9781783463077.

A well-illustrated account and history of some of the major ships of the major combatants. Limited to a small number of ships.

BAGNASCO, Erminio. Submarines of World War II. 256p., bibliog., illus., index. London: Arms & Armour; Annapolis: NIP, 1977. ISBN: 085368331X.

A  full technical account of the submarines of all the belligerents of WWII, whether operational or not. The boats are discussed by country and class and the whole is profusely illustrated. A new edition was published by Seaforth in 2018, ISBN: 9781526744531.

LAMBERT, John, & ROSS, Al. Allied Coastal Forces of World War II. 2 vols., illus. London: Conway, 1991–93; Annapolis: NIP, 1994. ISBN: 0851775195 (Vol.1); 0851776027 (Vol.2).

A comprehensive guide to the Fairmiles, Subchasers, Vospers, and Elcos. Reprinted by Seaforth with some new colour drawings in 2018-19. (ISBN: 152674449X, Vol.1, ISBN: 1526747553, Vol. 2).

STERN, Robert C. The Modern Cruiser: The Evolution of the Ships that Fought the Second World War. 288p., bibliog., illus., index. Barnsley: Seaforth, 2020. ISBN: 9781526737915.

An excellent and sumptuously produced history of the cruiser in the twentieth century, which covers all the major fleets. At the core of the book is a view of the impact of the inter-war treaties which had a huge impact on cruiser design. This broadly chronological account is focused on design issues but also considers their performance in action.

PRESTON, Antony. Super Destroyers: The Big Destroyers Built in the 1930’s for Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States (Warship Special 2). 72p.illus. London: Conway, 1978. ISBN: 0851771319.

A series of essays by acknowledged experts, edited by Preston. Profusely illustrated and full of technical detail.

A brief text with the leading details of the ships accompanied by some excellent photographs. .

A country by country review of the ten thousand ton 8" cruisers which sprang from the Washington Treaty of 1921.

A good and well illustrated general guide.

A design history with some operational details.

A short popular history based on television series of the same name. Good WW2 coverage.

A good general primer, but with an inevitable American bias.

A detailed technical history of the design, construction and operation of all battleships and battlecruisers of vintage subsequent to 1930, including ships completed, laid down and projected. Includes operational histories with a comprehensive technical examination of the sinking of Prince of Wales. The ships are examined by class and there are companion volumes on the US Navy and on Spain and the Axis. US title: Battleships: Allied Battleships in World War II . (ISBN: 0870211005.)

The author continues his exploration of warship design and development with much of relevance to WWII.

This large volume covers all the Navies which developed such boats. It is profusely illustrated. Originally published in Germany, there is an emphasis on German boats.

The Danube has always been hugely significant to Europe. This book describes the low-cost, high-powered, riverine, armoured vessels which could support land forces. It gives plans and histories of all vessels the authors can identify. Soviet, German, and Rumanian monitors all saw action in WWII.

Gives a brief technical description of the torpedo boats of all the principal belligerents.

A well-illustrated guide arranged by country then chronologically by class. Dominated by the WWII carriers. A revised edition was published in 1992 and a new edition by Brockhampton Press in 1998.

A good but very limited illustrated pocket guide. Classes are described in three to five pages in country order, but only the major operational types are included.

A good but very limited illustrated pocket guide. Classes are described in three to five pages in country order, but the British list is limited to the Hood, Nelson,and King George V classes for example.

A review with brief details of the actual and planned aircraft carriers of all the belligerents, arranged by country and class. Only fleet carriers are included.

A photographic record of all capital ships built in the period, with detailed accompanying captions. Arranged by country then class.