Cruiser/Related Articles

Parent topics

Warship [r]: A ship designed to employ weapons and sensors in direct naval warfare ^[e]

Battlecruiser [r]: A large warship with guns comparable to those of a battleship, equal or greater speed, but less armor; "can catch what it can kill and run away from what can kill it"; had disastrous experiences when fighting true battleships ^[e]
Large cruiser [r]: Designation for several national classes of WWII cruiser, much heavier-gunned than heavy cruisers but not approaching the capabilities of battlecruisers; major examples were German Lützow-class (commerce raiding; also called "pocket battleship") and U.S. Alaska-class (carrier escort) ^[e]
Heavy cruiser [r]: The only cruiser type defined by the Washington Naval Treaty, this category has a main gun battery between 5.1"/155mm and 8"/203mm; it would normally have some armor and, if a "Treaty Cruiser", a maximum displacement of 10,000 tons ^[e]
Light cruiser [r]: A warship larger than a destroyer, but smaller than a heavy cruiser, with more or heavier main guns (typically 6"/152mm), and some armor; often used as the flagship and core of a destroyer formation attacking with torpedoes ^[e]

AEGIS battle management system [r]: Add brief definition or description
- Cooperative Engagement Capability [r]: Add brief definition or description
Armor (naval) [r]: Heavy metal plate to provide passive protection against gunfire; obsolete for modern vessels, which do not face heavy gun threats, but emphasize defense against missiles as well as protection against underwater explosions ^[e]
Battleship [r]: A heavily-armored, warship optimized for fighting other warships using large-caliber guns; certain armor requirements differentiated from cruisers; obsolete by end of World War II. ^[e]
Cruise missile [r]: A guided missile that uses aerodynamic forces, as well as active jet or rocket propulsion, to stay airborne and to adjust its course. ^[e]
Destroyer [r]: Add brief definition or description
Fast attack craft [r]: Add brief definition or description
Ocean escort [r]: Add brief definition or description
Surface-to-air missile [r]: Add brief definition or description
Anti-shipping missile [r]: Add brief definition or description