For over a decade this annual has provided an authoritative summary of all that has happened in the naval world in the previous twelve months, combining regional surveys with one-off major articles on noteworthy new ships and other important developments. Besides the latest warship projects, it also looks at wider issues of significance to navies, such as aviation and weaponry, and calls on expertise from around the globe to give a balanced picture of what is going on and to interpret its significance. As 2022 saw the outbreak of the first major European war since 1945, it is not surprising that the naval aspects of the conflict in Ukraine take centre stage, with an interim assessment of the fighting so far and what can be gleaned of the strategies and tactics of the warring parties. Another newsworthy topic - hypersonic missiles - is the subject of Norman Friedman's expert analysis. Of the regular features, the 'Significant Ships' cover the US Navy's Nimitz class carriers, now representing fifty years of evolution; and HMNZS Aotearoa, the largest warship built for New Zealand. Of the Fleet Reviews, one looks at the US Navy's adaptation to the return of Great Power competition, not least with China, and the second covers the Vietnam People's Navy, which faces Chinese pressure at close quarters. Firmly established as the only annual naval overview of its type, World Naval Review is essential reading for anyone - whether enthusiast or professional - interested in contemporary maritime affairs.

The technical details of British warships were recorded in a set of plans produced by the builders on completion of every ship. Known as the `as fitted' general arrangements, these drawings documented the exact appearance and fitting of the ship as it entered service.Today these plans form part of the incomparable collection of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, which is using the latest scanning technology to make digital copies of the highest quality. This book is one of a series based entirely on these draughts which depict famous warships in an unprecedented degree of detail - complete sets in full color, with many close-ups and enlargements that make everyaspect clear and comprehensible. Extensive captions point the reader to important features to be found in the plans, and an introduction covers the background to thedesign.HMS Birmingham was selected for the series because this famous interwar `Town' class cruiser is unusually well documented. Unusually, three separate sets of plans survive-as completed in 1937, as refitted in 1943, and as modernized in 1952-which allows this novel form of anatomy to cover the whole of the ship's long career.

For over a decade this annual has provided an authoritative summary of all that has happened in the naval world in the previous twelve months, combining regional surveys with one-off major articles on noteworthy new ships and other important developments. Besides the latest warship projects, it also looks at wider issues of significance to navies, such as aviation and weaponry, and calls on expertise from around the globe to give a balanced picture of what is going on and to interpret its significance. The latest of the in-depth 'Significant Ships' series cover the US Navy's _America_ (LHA-6) class amphibious ships; the Singaporean Independence, an indigenous design of Littoral Mission Vessel; and the venerable Type 23 frigate, still the mainstay of the British Royal Navy's surface fleet. Technological subjects include an analysis of stealth at sea by Norman Friedman, the US Standard missile family by Richard Scott, as well as David Hobbs' regular review of naval aviation. This year the reviews of specific fleets focus on the navies of Sweden and Nigeria, two medium sized naval powers with very different histories. Firmly established as the only annual naval overview of its type, the _World Naval Review_ is essential reading for anyone - whether enthusiast or professional - interested in contemporary maritime affairs.

Entering service between 1937 and 1939, the ten British Town' class cruisers were the most modern vessels of their type in the Royal Navy when the Second World War began. Built in response to large 6-inch gunned cruisers in the US and Japanese Navies and primarily designed for the defence of trade, they saw arduous service in a wide range of roles, playing a decisive part in victories such as the Battle of the Barents Sea and the destruction of the German Scharnhorst at the North Cape. The cost was heavy: four of the ships were lost and the other six all survived heavy damage, in some cases on more than one occasion. In this major study, Conrad Waters makes extensive use of archive material to provide a technical evaluation of the Town' class design and its subsequent performance. He outlines the class's origins in the context of inter-war cruiser policy, explains the design and construction process, and describes the characteristics of the resulting ships and how these were adapted in the light of wartime developments. An overview of service focuses on major engagements, assessing the extent to which the class met its designers' expectations and detailing the consequences of action damage. Concluding chapters continue the story into the Cold War era, examining the modernisation programme that kept the remaining ships fit for service during the 1950s. Heavily illustrated with contemporary photographs and drawings by A D Baker III, John Jordan and George Richardson, British Town Class Cruisers provides a definitive reference to one of the Royal Navy's most important Second World War warship designs.

Now firmly established as an authoritative but affordable summary of all that has happened in the naval world in the previous twelve months, this annual combines regional surveys with one-off major articles on noteworthy new ships and other important developments. Besides the latest warship projects, it also looks at wider issues of importance to navies, such as aviation and weaponry, and calls on expertise from around the globe to give a balanced picture of what is going on and to interpret its significance. Features of this edition include an analysis of the Republic of Korea Navy and the response to its aggressive northern neighbour. Significant Ships will cover the USN s revamped Arleigh Burke class destroyer design, German F125 class frigates, and the RNZN s Otago class offshore patrol vessels. There are also technological reviews dealing with naval aviation by David Hobbs, RN missile programmes by Richard Scott, while Norman Friedman turns his attention to new generation weapons technology. The World Naval Review is intended to make interesting reading as well as providing authoritative reference, so there is a strong visual emphasis, including specially commissioned drawings and the most up-to-date photographs and artists impressions. For anyone with an interest in contemporary naval affairs, whether an enthusiast or a defence professional, this annual has become required reading.