A compendium of the world's most important and technologically advanced military surface and under-sea vessels including details on cruisers, destroyers and frigates plus information on the massive nuclear-powered aircraft carriers currently afloat around the world. Surface combatants include cruisers, destroyers and frigate - ships that are tasked with combat operations against hostile submarines, surface ships, aircraft, missiles and targets ashore. Also included is the massive nuclear-powered aircraft carriers currently in service such as the French carrier Charles de Gaulle, the British HMS Illustrious and the giant carriers of the US Nimitz class, such as the USS George Washington. Submarines include the massively powerful Ohio class ballistic submarines and the Seawolf class attack submarines.The text entries discuss the capabilities of modern naval vessels, such as the ability of ballistic missile submarines to target and destroy every capital city in the northern hemisphere using independently targetable nuclear warheads plus the attributes of the weapons equipping today's naval vessels including the Sea Sparrow surface missile system and the Phalanx close-in weapon system. Colour photographs and specification tables for each vessel include type, crew, length, beam, draught, displacement, range, speed, operating depth, powerplant, missiles, guns and much more.
