When HMS Dreadnought was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1906 this revolutionary new class of big-gun iron-clad warship immediately changed the face of naval warfare, rendering all other battleships worldwide obsolete. The Admiralty realised that as soon as the ship was revealed to the global naval community Britain would be a in race to stay ahead, and so the first dreadnoughts were built in record time. While there were those who regarded the vessel as a triumphant revolution in naval design, the dreadnought initially had its critics, including those who thought its slower, heavier guns left it vulnerable to the secondary armament of other warships. Nevertheless, other countries, notably Germany, and the United States soon began to lay down dreadnoughts. The culmination of this arms race would be the confrontation of the British and German fleets at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 - the greatest clash of naval firepower in history. This book gives detailed insights into the design, operation and combat history of these incredible vessels.

About the Author
Dr Chris McNab is an author and historian, his principal subject areas being military history and military technology. He has written more than 100 non-fiction titles, including many Casemate pocket manuals relating to World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. Chris has appeared in several TV documentaries as an expert commentator, and he also works as an educational consultant, specialising in the development of textbooks and teaching materials.

Reviews
When you pick up a Casemate book in this series, you expect to open a door on what the back cover describes as 'unparalleled detail into the weapons, equipment, and machinery of war,' and the author delivers all this in a satisfying, fine-grained read. Most engrossing, however, is his presentation of the thought work behind the design of the Dreadnought, as well as the gradual recognition of the technological evolutions that eventually made this potent machine possible. * The NYMAS Review 04/01/2023 *
The history of the dreadnought is well told this extensively illustrated volume. The book con tains more than 200 illustration, technical drawings, and photographs of various ships and their equipment, armament, and crews. * Military Heritage *
Offers an overview of a time of rapid, tumultuous change in naval technology. It is lavishly illustrated; there are hundreds of photographs, technical drawings, paintings, and diagrams. The text is tightly focused, readable, and free from jargon ... As an introduction to a complex and fascinating subject ... McNabb has done an admirable job. * Nautical Research Journal 28/09/2022 *



Book Information
ISBN 9781636240862
Author Chris McNab
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint Casemate Publishers
Publisher Casemate Publishers