#heavy_cruisers

The U.S. Des Moines-class cruisers were a class of cruise ships built as heavy cruisers for the United States Navy during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Famous for their powerful armament and design innovations, as well as their long service life, they represented a remarkable achievement of naval engineering during the Cold War. This was the last heavy cruiser class commissioned by the United States. That being said, they provided an important role within the Navy for decades.

The Battle of the River Plate was the earliest major naval battle of the Second World War. It saw the sinking of German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee and is often touted as an early success for the Royal Navy, though the actual facts of the battle somewhat muddle that case. The story of this famous battle actually starts a few months before the day it took place on December 13, 1939.

The Prinz Eugen was the third and final member of the completed Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruisers. Launched in August 1938, she saw extensive service during WWII, including in the sinking of HMS Hood alongside the Bismarck. Following the cessation of hostilities, she was transferred to the US, where she was used as a test target in the Baker nuclear test. Due to the damage received during the tests, she capsized and sank before repairs could be made.