Description:Fast cruisers, the eyes of the fleet, were the standard-bearers of empire, the ultimate warships of gunboat diplomacy―no other vessel class was so well equipped to serve as both a working war machine and a projection of national might.• Covers the most significant cruiser and battle cruiser designs, providing details such as hull dimensions, armor, armament, means of propulsion, and crew complement• Discusses in an introductory chapter the general history of cruisers from the 18th century to the present including the development and importance of cruisers as they evolved