Staying with the New Vanguard Series, Osprey Publishing proudly announces part two of their upcoming nautical releases, US Cruisers 1883–1904, The birth of the steel navy. This book covers the rebirth of the U.S. Navy into the New Steel Navy of the late 1800s. Due to hit the shelves in June of 2008, this soft cover book will retail for $17.95.

By the end of the Civil War the US Navy was the most advanced in the world, but in the years that followed, America's naval might dwindled. In the 1880s a 'New Navy' was born and at the forefront of its fleet were the mighty cruisers. Naval historian and author Lawrence Burr details how these cruisers allowed America to rebuild their navy. Taking a trip back in time, the reader will explore the design and development of these ships. Through battle accounts, the reader will see how US cruisers performed in the Spanish-American War of 1898, notably at Manila Bay and Santiago. Illustrated with early photographs and full-color artwork by Ian Palmer and John White, this is a concise history of the birth and development of a modern navy that was the precursor to the development of modern steel fleets around the world.

Contents

• Introduction
  
• A Naval Renaissance
  
• Design and Construction
  
• The Ships
  
• Cruisers in Action
  
• Pointing the Guns
  
• USS Olympia
  
• Conclusion
  
• Select Bibliography
  
• Appendix
  
• Index