The fast and formidably-armed battlescruisers of Great Britain and Germany that were developed before and during the First World War are, in this new book, compared and contrasted in a way, and at a level of detail, that has never been attempted before. The authors begin by looking at the relationship and rivalry between Great Britain and Germany and at how foreign policy, strategic and tactical considerations, economic, industrial and technological developments, and naval policies led to the instigation of programmes in both countriess. Chapters are then devoted to the development of the type in each country, to their design and construction, protection, propulsion plants, weapons, fire control, and communication systems, focussing particularly on the innovative aspects of the designs and on their strengths and weaknesses. These ships eventually clashed in the North Sea at Dogger Bank, in January 1915, and while neither side suffered losses, the differences in their design and handling were apparent, differences that would be more starkly highlighted a year later at Jutland when three British ships were destroyed. These actions, and others they took part in, are described and assessed by the authors who then conclude by analysing their strengths and limitations. This is a major new work for naval enthusiasts everywhere. AUTHOR: Michele Cosentino is a retired Commodore in the Italian Navy. He has written extensively on naval policy and technical issues, his most recent book focusing on the design and operations of Italian aircraft carriers from 1912 to 2011. SELLING POINTS: ? A new and comparative study of the ship type that fought at Jutland ? Highly detailed technical and operational analyses of the ships 220 black and white photos and line drawings
