Definition of battlecruiser

battlecruisernoun

tàu chiến

/ˈbætlkruːzə(r)//ˈbætlkruːzər/

The term "battlecruiser" was coined by the British Admiral, Sir Arthur Wilson, during the early 20th century. The first battlecruisers emerged as a new class of warships that combined the speed and armament of a cruiser with the heavy armor and firepower of a battleship. The inspiration for the development of battlecruisers came from the Battle of Jutland in 1916 during World War I, where cruisers were deployed against battleships. The British realized that their cruisers were not equipped to take on the heavily protected battleships, but they also knew that battleships were too slow to keep up with them. Battlecruisers were designed to address this issue, providing the speed and range of cruisers with the heavier armor and armament of battleships, making them more effective against battleships than cruisers but less well-defended than battleships in return. Sir Arthur Wilson's vision for these newly designed warships was to allow them to engage in close combat with battleships without the need for the slow-moving battleline to intervene. Hence, they became known as battlecruisers, combining the speed and agility of a cruiser with the firepower of a battleship, making them a potent force on the battlefield.

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Example:
  • The Royal Navy commissioned the HMS Tiger, a formidable battlecruiser, to strengthen its naval defense against potential enemies.
  • The German fleet launched its battlecruiser, the Seydlitz, during the Battle of Jutland in 1916, aiming to inflict major damage to the British Royal Navy.
  • The Soviet Navy deployed its battlecruiser, the Petropavlovsk, in the Pacific Ocean to assert its power and deter any potential aggression from Japan.
  • The American Navy's battlecruiser, the USS Alaska, played a critical role during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, neutralizing enemy forces and securing victory for the Allies.
  • The Japanese navy introduced its battlecruiser, the Izumo, in the 1930s, which gave the country an edge in naval combat and helped it project its power into the Pacific.
  • The German navy's battlecruiser, the Scharnhorst, suffered significant losses in the Battle of the North Cape in 1943, which was a major turning point in the war for the Allies.
  • The Soviet Union's battlecruiser, the Frunze, was one of the most advanced vessels in the world during the Cold War, demonstrating the country's technological capabilities in naval warfare.
  • The Royal Navy's battlecruiser, the HMS Renown, steamed into action during the Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914, causing devastating damage to the German fleet.
  • The US Navy's battlecruiser, the USS California, played a critical role in the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942, decisively turning the tide of the Pacific War in the favor of the Allies.
  • The British Navy's battlecruiser, the HMS Invincible, faced destruction at the Battle of Jutland in 916, becoming one of the most tragic events in naval history.