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by Mark Lardas.
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 48 pages. 2025.
Subtitle: New Vanguard 340
I almost abandoned this booklet in the first few pages. The second paragraph about the number of 5-inch guns was so poorly written, I had to read and re-read it to make sense. A typo “carrying 16in. eight of the newest turrets” (p4) that should read “carrying 16 in eight of the newest turrets” didn’t help. It’s about the ship armed with sixteen 5-inch guns. The next few pages meandered around other countries’ light cruisers.
I persevered and it got better. I found the analysis of AA guns — the 1.1-inch “Chicago Piano” versus the 20mm Bofors — especially interesting. As the war progressed, the Bofors replaced the 1.1s and later the 40mm replaced the 20mm.
The booklet continues with the design, fitting out, and wartime exploits of the four Atlanta-class light cruisers (Atlanta, San Diego, Juneau, and San Juan). The USS Atlanta was sunk at Guadalcanal and the USS Juneau was sunk with the five Sullivan brothers on board (p35) — all lost and instrumental in changing USN policy regarding brothers serving on the same ship. The USS San Diego was the first ship to dock at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan (p40).
Also covered are the four light cruisers that upgraded the Atlanta’s design (Oakland, Reno, Flint, and Tucson) as well as mentions about the next upgraded light cruiser line CL-154, which was cancelled in 1945.
The booklet contains 33 black and white photos, two color photos, three black and white illustrations, one color two-page cutaway illustration of the USS San Juan, 10 color camouflage profiles of ships, one color illustration of a 5-inch turret layout, and three color one-page action illustrations.
So, started out shaky but made a fine recovery. Ties go to the author.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
