A new history of the large, fast, and long armored cruisers of the US Navy and the roles these warships played as America evolved into a major naval power. At the dawn of the "Steel Navy" era, the developing US Navy fleet included not only battleships but also armored cruisers, which were the precursors to battle cruisers. The armored cruisers sacrificed maximum firepower and protection of the battleships for superior speed and range, but, as this study shows, their role was not always easy to define. They were contentious as they were as large and expensive as battleships but could not withstand battles against them. Despite their high production, they tactically never had a legitimate mission—their traditional developmental missions were commerce raiding and protection, yet nevertheless, author Brian Lane Herder demonstrates how the use of armored cruisers was successful for the US Navy. After 1906, some replaced US battleships in the Pacific, operating as oversized steamships, most notably the modified armored cruiser Pennsylvania, which witnessed the first aircraft landing on a ship. On November 5, 1915, the North Carolina became the first cruiser to launch an aircraft from a catapult while in motion. After the war, the surviving US armored cruisers represented the US Navy at their Asian station until the last cruiser was sunk in 1946. Using detailed, colored illustrations and photographs, this fascinating book describes the development and evolution of these contentious yet interesting ships, providing examples of the central service they played in the US Navy in a variety of defense and escort roles.