The Norman Friedman Illustrated Design History series of U.S. warships books has been an industry standard for three decades and has sold thousands of copies worldwide. To mark and celebrate this achievement, the Naval Institute Press is proud to make these books available once more. Digitally remastered for enhanced photo resolution and quality, corrected, and updated, this series will continue to serve—for scholars and enthusiasts alike—as the foundation for U.S. naval warship research and reference for years to come.  

Friedman, a leading authority on U.S. warships, explains the political and technical rationales of warship construction and recounts the evolution of each design. This volume is fully illustrated with deck plans, outboard profiles, sketches from major design studies, and numerous detailed photographs complement the text.