From ancient times to World War II and the postwar period, Battleships charts the evolution of the vessel that ruled the seas-a vessel that, until the arrival of the aircraft carrier, would be the most expensive and complex human-made moving object in history. The battleship has long been the vessel by which a nation's naval power is measured, a vessel essential to any country hoping to dominate the seas; a vessel so costly only an elite circle of nations was ever able to build them-and the one that sparked one of the most intense arms races in history.; Battleships charts the dramatic evolution of this dominating war vessel. Coverage ranges from ancient galleys to the great ships of World War II to the present, with special emphasis on the ironclad era of the mid-19th century (which saw the greatest innovation over the shortest timespan in naval history) and the great 20th-century battleship race of the dreadnought era. Written by expert military historian Stanley Sandler, Battleships provides insightful examinations of the technological and tactical aspects of important warships from around the world and across time. It also looks at the political and social factors driving the decision to produce battleships in different countries. No other volume has ever captured so completely the impact of the battleship as a weapon of war and a symbol of power.