This year under the tree I have found (OK, it was on my list with precise instructions for Santa) "Clydebank battlecruisers" by Ian Johnston. Wow, all I can say. Treasure trove of information and, of course, beautiful pictures. Facts I didn't know about (not a surprise) -some just curiosities, some very informative about history of British battlecruisers. Sample of interesting trivia - why P and Q turrets (as opposed to just A, B, and C) - B and C sound similar and that could lead to some confusion: Turret Cee - fire! captain orders. They hear Bee and the friendly destroyer goes down. On the serious note - the book describes process of construction of five battlecruisers built in John Brown's shipyard; HMS Inflexible, Australia, Tiger, Repulse and Hood. As the author points out, this lineup constitutes one one ship from each five classes of Royal Navy battlecruisers. (another new fact for me that Tiger was considered in the same class as the rest of Lions). You read about the euphoria in the Admiralty after the Falkland Battle and haste ordering of Repulse and Renown - the ships were given priority and, in Repulse case in particular, were constructed in record time. Than comes despair after Jutland to the extent that the new battlecruisers are, in effect, not wanted by the navy. I'm afraid I can't add anything new to the discussion at hand - there are compelling arguments on both sides of the "divide". One thing I've always wondered about - why did Admiralty send armored cruisers with Jellicoe? What was their role other than "not being able to fight and not being able to run away". I'm inclined to apply the same logic to battlecruisers - why were they needed at Jutland, at this particular battle? British new, at least in general, what Germans are up to - wouldn't Grand Fleet dreadnoughts, all 28 of them with their light cruiser and destroyer escort, suffice to prevent Germans from breaking out?
Apologies if info about the book is an old news - couldn't resit to share my excitement.
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