The World's Great Aircraft Carriers: From the Civil War to the Present

Originally developed during WWI to fulfill scouting duties for battle fleets, the aircraft carrier became the decisive naval arm in WWII and forever transformed naval warfare. This book is a highly illustrated record of the development of the aircraft carrier from the first successful flight from a deck in 1911 to the nuclear-powered behemoths of the present. The World's Great Aircraft Carriers also explains the technology and tactics of carrier warfare. All the famous ships of WWII and their actions are documented. The most modern carriers, such as those of the powerful Nimitz class, are described. Fully-illustrated with 40 color renderings and cut-aways and 80 color and b/w photos, the book also provides full specifications, including displacement, dimensions, speed, aircraft complement, armament, and electronics.