Beginning with King Henry VIII's flagship, , this book covers all the main periods of battleship development, including the great sailing ships, such as , , and . The advent of steam-driven warships provides the core of the book, beginning with the introduction of in 1859, and continuing through all the major pre- , such as the . There is detailed coverage of the great battleships of the two world wars, including , while the book closes with the last new battleship to be commissioned, , in 1946. Each entry includes a brief description of the battleship's development and history, a color profile artwork, key features, and specifications. Packed with illustrations and photographs, is a colorful guide for the military historian and naval warfare enthusiast.