Fully updated and presented in colour throughout, this Conway Classic is a comprehensive study of the world's capital ships from the emergence of Dreadnought in 1906 to the decommissioning of the last two of the US Iowa class - New Jersey and Winsconsin - scheduled for 2007/2008. For fifty years battleships represented the military might and pride of their countries. They threatened, they impressed, they surprised in a way no other symbol could. Their like willnever be seen again, as large surface ships are no longer considered practical in the missile age. This new edition provides the technical data, gives the design background and outlines the careers of the world"s battleships and battlecruisers. Organised by nation, type and class, each entry contains a wealth of technical detail and extensive data on every vessel; each class or single ship is illustrated with a line diagram of the ship in profile and a photograph.