The Battleship HMS Dreadnought Book Review

By Michael Benolkin

Review

At the beginning of the 20th Century, the Royal Navy built a revolutionary new warship, a concept that ironically came from the Italian Navy's chief ship designer. The idea was simple, standardize the calibers of the main guns to the largest caliber, provide ample armor protection, and make the vessel fast. The Italian Navy wasn't impressed by the concept, but based upon the lessons learned in the recent Russo-Japanese naval battles, only the largest guns counted. The Royal Navy seized on the idea and designed HMS Dreadnought, the first to standardize its main guns, implement steam turbine propulsion, and incorporate fire control.

In their continuing series of 3D Super Drawings monographs, Kagero has produced yet another great reference title that takes the reader through close-up views of a super-detailed digital model of the HMS Dreadnought from deck-level, overhead, underneath, and all around the hull to show details that would not be seen in normal photography. Many of the views show the unique structures that suspended the anti-torpedo nets around the hull which was intended to detonate the warheads far enough from the hull to negate any damage, similar to modern slat armor on combat vehicles to protect against RPGs.

This is another great work from Kagero that will provide the historian and modeler with some great references of this new combatant concept that would be echoed in the US with the USS South Carolina and in Japan based on their own lessons learned in battle.

Definitely recommended!

My sincere thanks to Kagero for this review sample!