US Navy Atlanta-class Light Cruisers 1940–49

Mark Lardas, Stefan Draminski

$26.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Osprey Publishing
04 November 2025

History; Maritime history; Second World War; Naval forces & warfare; Military & naval ships; Ship design & naval architecture

Series: New Vanguard

A comprehensively illustrated account of the Atlanta-class cruisers, warships that found a surprising key role in the Pacific War as the US Navy's superb antiaircraft warships.

In the late 1930s, the US Navy created a class of small, light cruisers intended as a versatile destroyer leader. The Atlantas could provide antiaircraft support, lead and launch torpedo attacks, serve as antisubmarine vessels, and outgun other light warships in a surface engagement. The wartime reality was different. In every surface action they fought, they found themselves pitted against bigger cruisers (or even battleships) instead of the destroyers they were designed to defeat.

In this book, naval historian Mark Lardas explains that despite their flaws, they proved one of the most useful warships in the US Navy: with a main battery of sixteen 5in guns, they proved to be superb antiaircraft cruisers. From the battle of Midway onwards, they protected the Navy’s most valuable ships – its aircraft carriers – so effectively that later Atlantas were built to a modified design as specialist antiaircraft ships. The Navy even ordered a follow-on class postwar and considered building a “super-Atlanta,” armed only with heavy antiaircraft guns.

Packed with illustrations, this book examines the history, development, and modifications of these unusual warships, and their impact on the Pacific War.

By: Mark Lardas
Illustrated by: Stefan Draminski
Imprint: Osprey Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 340
Dimensions: Height: 248mm, Width: 184mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781472866523
ISBN 10: 1472866525
Series: New Vanguard
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 04 November 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Mark Lardas has been fascinated by all things related to the sea and sky his entire life; from building models of ships and aircraft as a teen to studying Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at college. He worked as a navigation engineer on the Shuttle program and is now employed at Johnson Space Center on the Lunar Gateway program. He has written extensively about aircraft and warships, and lives in Texas. Stefan Draminski is among the world’s leading illustrators of historical warships.