Before the Battlecruiser (The Big Cruiser in the World's Navies, 1865-1910)

The battlecruiser is perceived by many as the most glamorous of warships, remembered for its triumphs and tragedies in both world wars. Often forgotten are its lineal ancestors, the “big” cruisers that were constructed as capital ships for distant waters, as commerce raiders, and fast scouts for the battlefleet during the last decades of the nineteenth century and the first years of the twentieth.

Bestselling author Aidan Dobson examines the 200 or so big cruisers built for the world’s navies from 1865 onward. He traces their design development, intended roles, and operational use, beginning with the French cruising ironclads constructed to project power overseas. Britain and Russia soon followed, and by the 1890s fast, heavily armed, and moderately armored cruisers had become central components of many fleets.

These ships played important roles in conflicts such as the Spanish-American War and the Russo-Japanese War. British responses to foreign designs produced unusually large ships such as HMS Powerful and HMS Terrible, while other navies adapted the type to local needs. In South America, big cruisers often served as primary capital ships, while the Italians pursued designs such as Giuseppe Garibaldi, as a more affordable option when compared to battleships.

As cruiser designs continued to grow in size, they culminated in HMS Invincible, officially designated a battlecruiser in 1912. Many earlier ships nonetheless remained in service well into the twentieth century. Dobson presents a detailed account of their design, construction, and employment during a period of rapid naval change.