IJN Sōryū (1935)

Japanese Navy Japan, 1937-42. Fleet Aircraft Carrier

The first purpose-built IJN fleet carrier

Another important landmark in the development of IJN air power, was the construction of the IJN Sōryū. Until then, following a parralel with the USN, IJN Hosho was the earlier equivalent to the USS langley, Converted IJN Akagi and Kaga, the answer to USS Lexington and Saratoga, and the IJN Ryūjō, the equivalent of the USS Ranger, a light carrier playing with the Washington's treaty inconsistencies. She was the result of the London treaty, opening a new alley for Japanese medium carriers.

The IJN Sōryū was often paired with IJN Hiryū and indeed, they proceeded from the same program, as half sister-ships. But they diverged considerably, and the former paved the way to the excellent Shōkaku-class aircraft carrier completed in 1941, and in fact for a whole wartime generation of Japanese fleet aicraft carriers. IJN Sōryū's career started immediately with the Sino-Japanese war and her actions with the Kidō Butai, followed its fate at Midway in June 1942.

Design development

The London Naval Conference of 1930 at last allowed the Japanese to strengthen their carrier fleet as the parity with the USA and Great Britain and Japan shifted from 5:5:3 at Washington to 10:10:7 which was more favorable and opened an option for two more, larger aircraft carriers. Both ships were indeed built under 1st Supplementary Program of 1931.

IJN Sōryū was one of two new large carriers approved for construction, under the 1931–32 Supplementary Program with IJN Hiryū. This was a first as she was to be designed from the keel up as a medium fleet aircraft carrier. The main advantage of the time she was started, was to incorporate lessons learned from the light carrier Ryūjō. The latter as a reminder was built to exploit a loophole of the Washington treaty defining aircraft carriers by their tonnage; Below 10,000 tons.

The idea was to built swarms of these light carriers, outside the cap fixed in that category. Of course the treaty's revision led to the closure of this in the 1930 London treaty, just as the first ship was built. So she remained alone, but experience with her led to an interesting starting point to develop a larger fleet carrier, while still relatively light, but maximizing aircraft capacity while using available treaty tonnage.

Context

During the Shanghai incident of 1932, 1st Koku Sentai, IJN KAGA and HOSHO were deployed to the Chinese coast, first opportunity for Japanese carriers to be tested in battle conditions, gaining invaluable operational experience. Around this time the impractical triple-deck arrangement on AKAGI and KAGA was abandoned and the two carriers were indeed scheduled to be rebuilt by 1935 and 1938. But the fleet still needed its first truly successful medium sized Japanese carrier. IJN SORYU and HIRYU were authorized under the Second Replenishment Program of FY 1934 which accentuated the expansion of naval aviation. In addition to two purpose-built carriers it included two fleet oilers TSURUGIZAKI and TAKASAKI, designed for rapid conversion to carriers (later SHOHO and ZUIHO). The general aim was to achieve parity with the United States naval air arm.

Of course, all aforementioned carriers were conceived in accordance with the tonnage restrictions of the Washington Treaty. It was hoped that by the time of HIRYU's completion in 1937 the restrictions would be lifted, but in January 1936 the Japanese delegation withdrew from the new London Treaty talks. It was decided not to comply with the limitations of both Washington and London Naval Treaties any longer. After 1 January 1937, warship construction could proceed without further constraints.

1933 - start of the design process

First off, it was obvious in 1930 that the design of Ryūjō was top-heavy, especially after the admiralty decision to double the number of aircraft. At that stage, in 1933, it was clear on her first trials that she had serious stability issues and was downright dangerous. She was rebuilt in 1935. Still in 1933, the engineers at least started with a better basis, freed from the below 10,000 tonnes cap. The ship could have a larger, beamier hull, a slightly taller forward freeboard to cope with heavy weather and better hangar-prow combination, while accommodating a more reasonably shaped hangar, and not inheriting a tall tandem hangar.

The "Blue Dragon", translation of her name, was still on specifications tailored for speed, and an emphasis on aircraft capacity over self defence. Targeting 16,000 tonnes, the admiralty still hoped to have three instead of two over the fleet's carrier authorized tonnage at the time. In 1935, the Japanese indeed ripped their treaties altogether. The reasoning was the same as on the American USS Ranger, designed earlier (In 1930).

The beam was augmented by 50 cm (from 20.8 to 21.3 m or 69 feets 11 inches), and the overall length jumped to 227 m (746 feets 5 in) instead of 179 m, engineers preferring to stretch the design to add more capacity, which also favored a better length-width ratio and thus, again, overall speed. On Soryu, this ratio was of 10,65 versus 9 on Ryujo. For speed and agility it became evident that four shafts produced some advantages. Therefore, a four turbines arrangement was preferred, with eight boilers instead of six, resulting on a brute output of 152,000 shp versus 65,000 shp on Ryujo, almost double.

The end result, combined to the better ratio was to provide these ships a top speed well in excess of 32 knots, whereas Ryujo was limited to 29 knots, just sufficient to act with battleships. For Soryu, it was expected to use these carriers in night operations with the latest IJN heavy cruisers, and therefore a top speed of 34-35 knots was targeted. The new design was also required to carry more planes, in this case 63 plus nine in reserve so an overall 72, versus 48 on Ryujo (and that was with spares and in 1933, the size of aircraft downgraded this massively until 1942).

1934 - The design is refined

With all this in mind, the engineers responsible for the design submitte their final proposal in early 1934, wich was approved and blueprints prepared by the chosen naval yard of Kure Naval Arsenal. Construction at last started on 20 November 1934 when her keel was laid down. This was more than one year and a half after USS Ranger had been launched already. In Comparison, the latter was slightly shorter, but beamier, slower, but carried more planes, a grand total of 86 as built, which was remarkable for such light tonnage. In between, design proceeded on the next generation of aircraft carriers in the USN, the Yorktown class, and both navies were capped by the same global 135,000-ton Treaty limit.

The new design, worked out from 1933, targeted 90 planes, but on a better balanced 19,000 tonnes basis. Meanwhile, the Japanese proceeded with IJN Hiryu ("Flying dragon"), a virtual copy of the first, with two years of gap, but with enough difference not to be considered as a true sister-ship. No naval historian today attached them in the same class anyway.

With their post-1935 "treaty out" approach, Japanese engineers were free at last to design in 1936 the "ideal fleet carrier", the Shokaku class, dubbed by many historians as "arguably the best aircraft carriers in the world" when built. They started with almost double the tonnage (32,000 tonnes), nine meters more in beam but still a slightly inferior aviation complement to the taller and roomier Yorktown, with "only" 72 operational planes and 12 spares so a total on paper of 84. The output was superior, so that despite their larger tonnage they still managed to reah more than 35 knots on trials, and the best defensive armament so far.

It is important to note that the Japanese outright lied in official publications on their CVs, officially for 10,050 tons standard. Their true tonnage was not revealed until the end of WWII. Nevertheless, if the "Soryu class" was overly successful, at least from the Japanese perspective, they were lacking good aircraft facilities, compared to contemporary HMS ARK ROYAL and USS YORKTOWN. Their aircraft-handling facilities were not modern, but improved on the next Shokaku class.

In fact it was hoped that by the time of HIRYU's completion in 1937 the restrictions would be lifted, but in January 1936 the Japanese delegation withdrew from the new London Treaty talks. It was decided not to comply with the limitations of both Washington and London Naval Treaties any longer. After 1 January 1937, warship construction could proceed without further constraints.

Detailed Design of IJN Sōryū


Deck and hull plan in 1941

The final design of IJN Sōryū called for a long hull as precised earlier, with a remarkable set of differences compared to Ryujo. Her prow was taller from the start (three stages high) but the height of her main two hangars was quite low, allowing the ship to avoid topweight issues. The internal distribution was in reality more complex with a separate hangar and workshop containing the spare planes and a repair space, plus ammo parks (gasoline tanks, aerial torpedoes, bombs, machine-gun cartridge bands, etc.), which were lower, so as to keep a balanced metacentric height. This was still not however a massive departure from Ryujo as rebuilt.

Hull and protection

If Ryujo was an unsatisfactory compromise, in short, a failed aircraft carrier, Soryu was the prototype for all following IJN aicraft carrier designs: Fast, lightly built, designed to deliver blows but not taking them. The hull measured 227.5 m (746 ft 5 in) overall but 210 (688 ft 9 in) at between parallels, 222 m (728 feets) at the waterline, for a beam of 21.3 m (69 ft 11 in), also at the largest hull section, not on the flight deck, and 7.62 m (24 ft 11 in) of normal draught.

Armour protection was not the overriding priority there. It was to be adjusted where and when the most needed and not more. It never passed 2.2 inches in thickness, and this was the deck over the ammunition magazines and aviation gasoline storage tanks (55.88 mm) with Ducol steel, down to 1 inch (25,4 mm) over the machinery, whereas the belt was only 1.6 to 1.8 inches thick (41-45,72 mm) with an internal anti-splinter bulkhead.

Japanese_aircraft_carrier_Soryu_fittingout1937
Soryu after launch, fitting out at the Kure Naval Arsenal in 1936

ASW compartimentation was of course pushed just enough to include a full separation of the machinery, between the four turbines, outer and inner shafts, and the boilers surrounded by many compartiments designed to absorb any torpedo blast, and at the bottom, a double hull running for about 70% of her lenght. But she had no bulges.

This ASW protection was more optimized against lighter aerial torpedoes than regular marine torpedoes, and it was believed their high top speed was a good argument against torpedo hits. Protection against aerial bombs however was limited to the "sandwich effect" of the two decks below the main and secondary hangar, plus the waterline deck. It was not sufficient at Midway, but because of the way ammunitions and fuel was stored and used inside the first hangar itself, where the damage was done. At that stage, no thoughts were given to armored decks. This was a close prewar British idea, and a very good one as shown by events in the Mediterranean.

Powerplant

Fantail view, IJN Soryu on trials at 35 knots
Fantail view, IJN Soryu on trials at 35 knots

The machinery was without contest the main selling point of the design. It was enormous for an aircraft carrier at the time for that tonnage, beating all standards. IJN Sōryū was propelled by four shafts, two outer and two inner, drove by four geared steam turbine sets, with a total of 152,000 shaft horsepower (113,000 kW). Steam came from eight Kampon water-tube boilers. These turbines and boilers were just borrwoed from the contemporary Mogami-class cruisers.

This sort of raw power combined with her slim, cruiser-type hull gave her a speed of 34.5 knots (63.9 km/h; 39.7 mph): This made her in 1937 the fastest aircraft carrier in the world at the time, when commissioned. She carried 3,710 metric tons (3,650 long tons) of fuel oil for an overall range of 7,750 nautical miles (14,350 km; 8,920 mi) at the cruis speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). The boiler uptakes were trunked together on her starboard side amidships, still below flight deck level, so to exhaust just below that level with two funnels curved downwards to avoid releasing smoke. The whole package was virtually repeated on IJN Hiryu.

Armament

IJN Sōryū was to be lightly armed, focusing on anti-aircraft armament as it was believed in 1934 onboard fighters had the primary duty to defend their carrier. Hwever ro procure a long range AA defence against bombers, and capabilities in a still possible naval fight, Soryu was fitted with twelve 127 mm/50 (5 inches) in three twin-gun mounts on either side. Two were closer together aft port and two forward on starboard. The Type 89 dual-purpose guns rested on projecting sponsons. They had a max range of about 14,700 meters (16,100 yd), but a practical ceiling of 9,440 meters (30,970 ft) when elevated at 90°. Maximum rate of fire was 14 rpm, 8 rpm sustained. They were assisted and directed by two Type 94 fire-control directors also mounted on sponsons, one of each side, but the starboard director mounted on the island was able to cover all sides and therefore control all this artillery if needed.

The second layer of active AA protection consisted of fourteen twin-gun mounts (28) license-built Hotchkiss 25 mm (1 inch) Type 96 AA guns. Three were located on a platform below the forward end of the flight deck, the rest were located in sponsons along the flight deck, three on the opposite side of the island, followed by three others mid-ship, then five heavenly spaced in between the aft 127 mm mount on the other side. However as in the previous designs, all three main sponsons were mounted below the flight deck level and could only cover half of the ship.

The ubiquitous 25 mm was a known standard issue light AA weapon suffering from severe design shortcomings, like being unable to be trained or elevated fast enough, with mediocre sights for high-speed targets, excessive vibration, muzzle blast and noise. Effective range was 1,500–3,000 meters (1,600–3,300 yd), with 5,500 meters (18,000 ft) of ceiling at +85° and 110-120 rpm with 15-round magazines. To serve these, five Type 95 directors were installed on each side of the flight deck and one in the bow. In 1938, gun shields were added to protect both the 127 and 25 mm mounts.

Aircraft facilities


Section of the island cutaway drawing, Extract from Kagero's book on IJN carriers.

Sōryū's flight deck was as customary shorter than her hull, at 216.9 m (711 ft 7 in) overall, but for 26 m (85 ft 4 in) in width. There was the customary overhang at both ends, and it supported by pairs of pillars. fore and aft. Her island was built on starboard on a extension protruding beyond hull, not encroaching on the flight deck. It was a small and narrow model reminiscent of what was done on Akagi, with a main enclose bridge and open brige above, and two small utility rooms below. On top of it was located a serie of binoculars for the watch and aft the large main telemeter for the 5-in guns.

The flight deck was criss-crossed by nine transverse arrestor wires starting at the level of the exhausts, and going back about 60m short of the end of the flight deck. These could could stop a 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) aircraft. In addition, there were two folded safety nets in case of an overshoot, one located abaft the forward exhaust and another forward.

The flight deck due to the particular way the ship was tretched out, was low over the water, only 12.8 meters (42 ft), the lowest since Hosho. The designers reduced indeed the height of the hangar, with a main upper hangar 171.3 long (562 feets) and 18.3 metres wide (60 ft) but just 4.6 meters (15 ft) in height, while the lower hangar was shorter at 142.3 m (467 feets) by 18.3 m (60 ft) and just 4.3 m hight (14 ft 1 in).Total area for parking was 5,736 Sq. metres (61,742 sq ft). These hangars were so low in fact, contrary to US paractice allowing spare planes to be just suspended under the ceiling, that the tails and folded wings sometimes reached the ceiling. The Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bomber when introduced was a particular difficult fit inside, condemned to the 1st hangar, or the flight deck as it could neither have its wings spread or folded inside.

There was also a recovery crane starboard aft, close to the aft offset lift, to recover water crashed planes and floatplanes. It was carried folded into a recess of the flight deck. The latter was colored, with a central section, starting roughly 10 meters forward of the island, and ending after the rear lift, in clear pine wood, and metal deck forward and aft. There was a white bearing mark forward and central white line running all the way to the aft section, and a white/red painted aft section for landing, with wings extensions for aiming.

The 60 strong air group was distributed from the two hangars to the flight deck via three elevators: The forward one was the largest at 16 by 11.5 meters (52 ft 6 in × 37 ft 9 in), rectangular in shape to fit in a "Kate" wings unfolded. It was located abreast the island, centerline but the two others were squarish and offset to starboard, a better fit for fighters. The first was 11.5 by 12 meters (37 ft 9 in × 39 ft 4 in), the rear one, smallest, was 11.8 by 10 meters (38 ft 9 in × 32 ft 10 in). All three had a lifting capacity uo to 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb). To serve this air group, IJN Soryu's total gasoline capacity was 570,000 liters (150,000 U.S. gal).

Onboard aviation

Her air group was initially planned to include eighteen Mitsubishi A5M, twenty-seven Aichi D1A2 dive bombers, and twelve Yokosuka B4Y Type 96 torpedo bombers but the Nakajima A4N1 was issued instead. (Dedicated Illustrations in preparation)

Completed in 1937, IJN Soryu was given only biplanes, transitioning to monoplanes from 1938 and until 1941. She operated in short succession the A2N, A4N, and finally A5M, A6M fighters in WW2, but also the D1A, D3A diving bombers and the B4Y and B5N torpedo bombers. At Pearl Harbor, she carried 21 Mitsubishi A6M Zero, 18 Aichi D3A and 18 Nakajima B5N for a total of 57, plus 11 in ready reserve to replace losses, and 9 more to be assembled to replace the latter (or be cannibalized). This basically was the same air group at Midway, barely six months later.

-The Nakajima A2N (1929) was already an old biplane introduced in 1936. Pilots trained with it, the very first squadrons tested comprised some Navy Type 90-III (A2N3) Carrier-based fighter, which moslty flew from the Hōshō, Kaga and Ryūjō. They were quickly replaced by the A4N or some possibly flew for early tests in 1937, according to navypedia.org.

-The Nakajima A4N1 (1934) was the replacement for the A2N, introduced in 1936 and quickly became the main fighter of Soryu from 1937 to 1938, used extensively over China. It was not given any codename by ONI, as considered obsolete in 1941. It was a stopgap before she received her planned A5M, in short supply.

-The Mitsubishi A5M "Claude" (1935) first IJN monoplane, but with open cockpit and fixed undercarriage was introduced in the IJN in 1936, so as IJN Soryu was still fitting out. It however replaced the A4N in 1938 when available. By that stage, it was probably the A5M3, replaced by the A5M4 variant in 1939. It was still used in 1941.

-The Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke" (1940) arrived just in time, to be precise, the A6M2, for Pearl Harbor. They became the mainstay of the carrier until her loss in June 1942, as there is no clue the A6M3 replaced it. The latter was mostly available from November-December 1942.

-The Aichi D1A "Susie" (1934) was her first dive bomber, a biplane, but brand new when she was completed. It was retired in 1942, but on second-hand units, whereas on Soryu it was retired well before the attack on Pearl Harbor, meaning Soryu lacked for a short time a dedicated dive bomber, before the "Val" arrived, with pilots fresh from training.

-The Aichi D3A1 "Val" (1938) was introduced from 1940 and replaced the D1A on all IJN carriers gradually in 1941. Given the schedule for the December attack, pilots trained intensively all the winter, on land bases and on IJN Soryu. This was still the frontline dive bomber on board at Midway.

-The Yokosuka B4Y "Jean" (1935) was the only torpedo biplane onboard IJN Soryu, introduced when she was fitted out. It equipped the carrier when commissioned and soldiered on for most of the Sino-Japanese war until declared obsolete.

-The Nakajima B5N "Kate" (1937) was the arguably most modern torpedo plane in the world when introduced in 1938. It had better caracteristics than the Devastator. It was probably available in sufficient numbers to replace the B4Y in 1940 already, leaving plenty of time for Soryu's pilots to train for Pearl Harbor.


Nakajima A4N1 fighter, which only served two years onboard Soryu.


Mitsubishi A5M4 "claude", Soryu 1939. In 1941, she was replaced by the A6M.

Comparison with IJN Hiryu

The most striking aspect with IJN Hiryu was her taller bow, four stage high (four rows of portholes) compared to just two on the initial Ryujo design, and three on Soryu. No risk ever she "plowed" in heavy weather of her deck being washed up to the hangar by tall waves as it happened previusly. Interestingly also, the ratio between the hangar's height coppared to Ryujo's was reverse. It was 50% on Soryu. The hangar was much lower, although seating higher up over the main deck.

For armor, IHN Hiryu was much better protected, with 90 millimeters (3.5 in) over the machinery spaces and aviation gasoline storage tanks and even 150 millimeters (5.9 in) over the magazines, quite a stretch.

Sōryū 1941
Author's illustration of IJN Sōryū in May 1942

⚙ Specs 1937

Dimensions227,5 m (746 ft) x Beam 21.3 m (69 ft) x Draught 7.6 m (24 ft)
Displacement16,200 long tons standard, 17,100 long tons FL
Propulsion4 shaft Kampon geared steam turbines, 8 Kampon boilers 152,000 shp
Speed34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range7,750 nmi (14,350 km; 8,920 mi) at 18 knots (33 kph, 21 mph)
ArmorBelt 41 mm (1.6 in), see notes
Armament6×2 12.7 cm (5 in) DP, 14×2 25 mm (1 in) AA, 70 planes
Crew1100





Sources/ Read more
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_aircraft_carrier_S%C5%8Dry%C5%AB
Conway's all the worlds fighting ships 1922-1947
https://ship.fandom.com/wiki/IJN_S%C5%8Dry%C5%AB
http://www.combinedfleet.com/ships/hosho
https://www.militaryfactory.com/ships/detail.asp?ship_id=ijn-hosho-aircraft-carrier

The model's corner


Model kit 1/700, Tamiya's boxart


Tamiya 1/700 waterline color set boxart

IJN Soryu's career

Interwar service

Japanese_aircraft_carrier_Soryu_1938
IJN Soryu in 1938

On 16 August 1937, Sōryū was fitting out, with Captain Akitomo Beppu assigned as Equipping Officer. On 1st December Beppu was relieved by Captain Kimpei Teraoka and on the 29th she was at last Commissioned in IJN, and assigned to Yokosuka Naval District, Second Fleet (second carrier division or CarDiv 2). On 9 April 1938 she departed the Terashima Channel and sailed to the South China Se, arriving at Takao, Taiwan on the 15th, starting a training session before being back to Japan. On 25 April 1938 she delivered indeed nine A4Ns, eighteen D1A2s, and nine B4Ys to Nanking air base, for a daily support of IJA troops advancing along the Yangtze River. This air group took part in many successful offensives, dealing blows to the Chinese Air Force and Soviet Volunteer Group until it was transferred to Wuhu in early June and then Anqing.

On 8 May 1938, she was considered ready and departed Sasebo for her first tour of duty along the Chinese coast. On 4 June 1938 she departed for maintenance and crew's rest at Yokosuka. eanwhile, leaving a few fighters and their pilots behind as the nucleus of a new fighter unit, this air group returned to Sōryū on 10 July. On 9 October 1938, she was in Mako, and sailed again to operate in South China Sea, arriving at Takao on 14 November. The following day she hosted her new captain, Keizo Uwano. She was back home later, spending most of the next year and a half training.

Japanese_aircraft_carrier_Soryu_02_KurilesIs-1939
Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu 02 Kuriles Islands 1939

On 21 March 1939 she departed Sasebo for another tour of duty in the East China Sea, until 2 April 1939 when she headed back to Sasebo. On 15 October 1939 Captain Uwano was relieved by Captain Sadayoshi Yamada and on the 31th she departed Yokosuka for her third tour of duty, until retired for resplenishment at Okinawa. On 26 March 1940 she departed Nakagusuku Bay (Okinawa) for a fifth round of operations in the South China Sea with her near sister IJN HIRYU. From 2 April 1940 she was stationed in Kirun, Taiwan. On 1st May 1940 she was back in Yokosuka for maintenance, short overhaul and prolongated crew's rest. She departed on 29 May 1940 for a drydock period at Yokosuka Navy Yard until 6 June 1940, proceeding two days later to Tateyama, embarking a new air group, and on 22 June 1940 sailed to Kisarazu for training before being back to Yokosuka on the 29th.

On on 5 July 1940, Soryu sailed to Tateyama for training and was back on the 22th to Yokosuka, departing on the 24th for Hakodate, Hokkaido, then saled to Ise Bay in August, proceeded to Saeki Bay in Kyushu, Sukumo Bay in Shikoku, Beppu in Kyushu and back to Yokosuka on 2 September 1940, drydocked until 11 October 1940. Captain Wataru Kamase too command on the 15th, and she return in drydock on 2 December 1940 for a short overhaul, proceediong on the 17th to Tateyama, then Ariake Bay, Kyushu, Kure for modifications (Iwakuni). She departed to participate in large naval maneuvers off Taiwan. During these on 3 February 1941 she collided with the destroyer YUZUKI.

On 6 February 1941 she entered Sasebo for repairs, until the 18th and she was back in Takao to join HIRYU. CarDiv 2 departed Takao on the 22th for Nakagusuku Bay before going back on 3 March 1941 to Takao, then Ariake Bay and back to Yokosuka on the 26th, assigned to the newly created First Air Fleet (Kido Butai), still CarDiv 2, paired with IJN HIRYU. On 20 April 1941 they sailed to Tateyama and on 20 May 1941 she trained with HIRYU in Ariake before going back to Yokosuka, departing on 10 July 1941 to support the invasion of southern French Indochina. On 16 July 1941 they were off Samah, Hainan, reaching port Cap St. Jacques and back to Samah in August, covering the invasion and occupation, and she also took part in the blockade of southern China. Her air group was detached in mid-July, transferred to Hainan Island to support the occupation of southern Indochina. She was back home on 7 August 1941 in Sasebo for maintenance and crew's rest. She also became flagship of the 2nd Division. She trained later this month off Kyushu until September 1941, back to Yokosuka. On the 12th Captain Kiichi Hasegawa (formely on IJN AKAGI) took joint command while the aicraft carrier was drydocked at Yokosuka Navy Yard in October, Captain Ryusaku Yanagimoto taking sold command before the ship leaves drydock after a short refit completed on 24 October. She made some training as flagship at Kagoshima, and arrived at Kushikino (Kyushu) for more training, Ariake Bay in November, before heading for Kure, Saeki as CarDiv 2 departed on the 18th for an action in the Kuriles, anchoring in Hitokappu Bay, Etorofu, the gathering point of the 1st air fleet under Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, for the attack of Pearl Harbor. On 26 November 1941, she Departed for Hawaii from there to avoid known shipping lanes.

Japanese_planes_preparing-Pearl_Harbor-sortyBG
Japanese planes preparing Pearl Harbor, Soryu in the backround

Wartime Operations from Pearl Harbor to Midway

On 7 December 1941 the 1st air fleet and CarDiv 2 arrived in position north 230 nautical miles (430 km; 260 mi) north of Oahu, pilots preparing at noon for the the Attack on Pearl Harbor. IJN SORYU launched like the rest of the fleet two succesive strikes. The First comprised 18 Kate torpedo bombers (Led by Lt. Tsuyoshi Nagai, Lt. Heijiro Abe) escorted by 8 Zero fighters (Lt. Masaharu Suganami). Eight of her B5Ns were supposed to attack the aircraft carriers normally berthed on the northwest side of Ford Island, only to found they were absent and focus on other ships. Six were detached to attack and sink the target ship Utah, and also the cruiser USS Raleigh, badly damaged. Two other pilots attacked ships berthed alongside "1010 Pier" and found in drydock the light cruiser Helena and minelayer Oglala. A torpedo missed Oglala but struck Helena. The other pilot instead attacked USS California.

Meawnhile the dive bombers also attacked Battleship row as planned. The ten B5Ns dropped their 800-kilogram (1,800 lb) armor-piercing bombs on the southeast side of Ford Island, reported scoring one or two hits. Her eight A6M Zeros strafed the Marine Corps Air Station Ewa and claimed to have burned twenty-seven aircraft, shooting down five more in the sky. Meanwhile Soryu's flight deck was crammed with the prepared planes of the second wave, 18 Val dive-bombers led by Lt.Cdr. Takashige Egusa escorted by 9 fighters (Lt. Fusata Iida). During the operations, her air group lost 4 Vals and 3 Zeros, also Lt. Iida. They attacked on the Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay. One Zero was lost to AA fire. Zero pilots claimed on their way down two American aircraft, loosing two of their own. The D3As of the second wave continue pounding the battle ship row, but it was not possible to determine what ship they hit, and two of them were shot down due to AA fire.

Attack on Wake

On 21 December 1941 CarDiv 2 was detached from the 1st air fleet to support the Second Invasion of Wake. She launched the first strike consisting of 18 dive-bombers and 18 fighters. On 22 December 1941 she launched a second strike against Wake with 18 Kates and 18 Zeros, loosing two "Kates". Indeed they were intercepted by the two surviving Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters of VMF-211. They were shot down themselves by escorting Zeros. On the 23, Soryu departed for home, arriving on the 29th at Kure for overhaul and replenishment.

Battle of the Philippines

On 11 January 1942 she was back at sea, Proceeding to Hashirajima before heading for Palau and on 23-24 January 1942 CarDiv 2 launched two strikes against Ambon, in support of the Kendari landings before making it to Davao, Mindanao. So they swapped from the invasion of the Palau Islands and Battle of Ambon to the invasion of the Philippines, but did not took part in it. During their initial strike, CarDiv 2 was able to put in the air 52 planes total. The carriers also detached eighteen Zeros and nine D3As to operate from land bases, in support of the Battle of Borneo. On 30 January, they shot down two aircraft on the ground and a Qantas Short Empire flying boat en route to Surabaya.

Raid on Darwin

On 28 January 1942 IJN Soryu was in Palau for resplenishment and meeting Kaga and Akagi, before departing on 15 February 1942 to Australia. She participated in a major raid over Port Darwin, Australia, but damage was far less impressive than in Pearl Harbor. Anyway, Soryu contributed 18 B5Ns and 18 D3As, escorted by 9 Zeros, the rest staying in a flying Combat Air Patrol (CAP). Eight ships were sunk or badly damaged, mostly civilian, three beaching to not sink. Zeros claimed a single Consolidated PBY Catalina and one D3A was lost (probably to AA). They also spotted a ship on a return trip, but coilod not attack, short of ammo. They had to be rearmed and refueled onboard, and several hours later, nine D3As located and bombed the supposed same ship, the American supply cargo of 3,200 GRT Don Isidro. She was hit five times but failed to sink, amazingly.

Battle of Java

On 21 February she was in Staring Bay, Celebes, departing to support the invasion of Java Island, Battle of Java. SORYU and AKAGI sunk the oiler USS PECOS during operations, and on 5 March 1942 the two CarDiv 2 carriers launches a strike against Tjilatjap in Java. On 7 March 1942 the division launched a strike against Christmas Island and on 11 March 1942 was back to Staring Bay for resplenishing, departing on 26 March 1942 to join the rest of the fleet and participate in the next big operation.

Raid to the Indian Ocean

GF_Soryu-in_Indian_Ocean_1942
IJN Soryu in the Indian Ocean 1942

This large operation was intended to secure newly conquered Burma, Malaya, and the Dutch East Indies, making impossible any Allied counter-attack from there for at least several months. The Kido Butai (two divisions) was tasked of destroying base facilities and all present forces in the area. Departing on 26 March 1942, the five carriers were spotted en route by a Catalina, about 350 nautical miles (650 km; 400 mi) southeast of Ceylon. On 5 April 1942 SORYU launched a strike from 120 nautical miles (220 km; 140 mi) against Colombo (Ceylon). Her pilots claimed to have shot down a Fairey Fulmar (806 Naval Air Squadron) and seven other fighters, conceding one. D3As and B5Ns inflicted in the end little damage to the port facilities as after the warning has been given, learly all traffic in the port was at sea.

Latter, spotter planes found HMS CORNWALL and DORSETSHIRE another strike force from Sōryū of eighteen D3As took off, led by Lt.Cdr. Egusa. They found the two cruisers and were the first to engage them, claiming 14 hits on both heavy cruisers. They were finished off by other waves. On 9 April 1942, Soryu launched the second strike planned against Trincomalee. Soryu's B5Ns were the first over the port while fighters met no opposition and instead started to strafe the installatons.

Meanwhile, a floatplane from IJN Haruna spotted the HMS Hermes, used as plane transport, escorted by the Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire. As soon as they were ready, every available D3A was launched and again, Sōryū's squadron comprised eighteen dive bombers but they arrived too late as the ship was already catch up and sank by other waves. Instead this squadron spotted three other ships further north, the oil tanker British Sergeant and Norwegian cargo ship Norviken. Both were sunk. However since they were close to the coast, alert has been given and they were attcked by eight Fulmars from 803 and 806 Naval Air Squadrons. They claimed three D3As, conceding two Fulmars while actually four D3As were lost, five damaged, proving the "jack of all trade" British naval plane was equal to the task.

Meanwhile, IJN Akagi narrowly escaped a raid from eight British Bristol Blenheim bombers from Ceylon. The latter dropped their payload at 11,000 feet (3,400 m), proving these tactics fruitless. Sōryū contributed to the CAP with six Zeros in the fourteen which collectively accounted for five Blenheim, conceding on Zero from Hiryū. The First Air Fleet reversed headed southeast (Malacca Strait) recovering their air groups in between, and went home on 22 April 1942.

Soryu at Midway

Kaga_Akagi_and_Soryu_under_attack_Midway-diorama
Kaga Akagi and Soryu under attack Midway diorama

Battle_of_Midway-diorama2
Battle of Midway diorama

Before Midway, and before joining home island, the Kido Butai and CarDiv 2 led by Soryu were transiting the Bashi Straits between Taiwan and Luzon on 19 April when a counter-order came to be sent in pursuit of the American carriers USS Hornet and Enterprise on their way back from the Doolittle Raid. They found none, the latter already back to Hawaii. They dropped anchor at Hashirajima on 22 April and needed badl an overhaul and rest after 4,5 months of uninterrupted activity. IJN Sōryū however was still needed elsewhere and hurriedly refitted and replenished, in preparation for the next major operation directed against Midway. Sōryū's air group was based ashore at Kasanohara for extensive training with the other First Air Fleet squadrons.

On 27 May 1942, she departs Hashirajima with the rest of the unit, the same Kaga/Akago of the 1stDivision and her near-sister ship Hiryu of the second in order to participate in "Operation Mi".

Yamamoto's bold "trap" aimed at finishing off the beleaguered American carrier force that remains from the recent air-sea battle at Coral Sea. He decided to invade and occupy Midway Island, an in-between too close to Hawaii for comfort. For this, he needed to lure out the American carriers, waiting with the main fleet in ambush. On 25 May 1942, Sōryū departd with a completed and well trained air group, with eighteen Zeros, sixteen D3As, eighteen B5Ns, plus two prototypes of the brand new Yokosuka D4Y dive bomber, plus three additional A6M Zeros (6th Kōkūtai) to deal with Midway and be later based there.

The fleet was placed 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) northwest of Midway, arriving at dawn on 4 June 1942. IJN Sōryū launched her planes which joined a 108 strong combined air raid, targeting the airfield on Midway's eastern island. She launched eighteen torpedo bombers, escorted by nine Zeros. She lost a single B5N (by fighters) two ditching on the return at extreme range and five damaged beyond repair. Meanwhile the US informed by their Intel were ready.



Sōryū alaunched 3 Zeros (out of 11) assigned to the initial CAP, helped to stem a frst wave from Midway Island at 07:10, notably six Grumman TBF Avengers (VT-8), four USAAC Martin B-26 Marauders also with torpedoes. Hiryū was attacked by the Avengers, which was their cmbat debut, a bit like the the Marauders attacking meanwhile Akagi. Five Avengers, two B-26s were shot down, and they all missed. Sōryū then launched three more Zeros, expecting more attacks.

Aerial_view_Soryu_evading_an_air_attack_4_June_1942
Aerial view IJN Soryu evading an air attack, 4 June 1942

At 07:15 Nagumo ordered Kaga & Akagi planes to be rearmed with bombs, but it became a long process, and the order was reversed at 07:40 when news camed USN warships had been spotted. Meanwhile, Sōryū's CAP Zeros landed back to resupply. At 07:55, sixteen Douglas SBD Dauntless of VMSB-241 were met first by Sōryū's three CAP fighters, claiming six. 12 USAAC Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses soon appeared above and carpedt-bombed the IJN formation, also without result from 20,000 feet (6,100 m). Sōryū saw a few "far misses" as it was not accurate. She kater constributed shooting down eleven Vought SB2U Vindicator dive bombers (VMSB-241) and at 08:20 the USN American carrier force was spotted to the northeast prompting Sōryū at 08:30 to launch a single D4Y to confirm their exact location. Soon after, she started recovering her planes back from Midway. This was over at 09:10, and these were quickly struck below to be prepared for strike against the USN carrier force, interrupted at 09:18 as a first incoming waves from these arrived.

Fifteen Douglas TBD Devastator (VT-8, Lt.C. John C. Waldron, from Hornet) came first, just as her CAP Zeros were landing to be refuelled at 09:30. They concentrated on Soryū, but they were dealt for by other Zeros in the CAP while Soryu was manoeuvering at full speed. Son after, fourteen Devastators from VT-6 (USS Enterprise) tried to sandwich Kaga, but were also shot down by the CAP now augmented by Sōryū's Zeros. Sōryū also soon launched her three other CAP Zeros at 10:00, three more at 10:15, but conceded one to an escorting Wildcat with VT-3.

However around 10:20, miracusliously all dive bombers arrive don site about the same time and fell onto the four carriers. At 10:25, Sōryū was targeted along by no less than thirteen Dauntlesses, Yorktown's VB-3. She received three direct hits, all being from 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, penetrating the lower hangar deck amidships or exploding in her upper hangar deck, both fore and aft. Since her air group was caught pants down, rearming and fuelling, a catastrophic serie of explosions ensued,aggravatied by the rupturing steam pipes in the boiler rooms. Fires became uncontrollable and at 10:45 Captain Yanagimoto ordered the crew to abandon ship. Destroyers IJN Isokaze and Hamakaze rescued the survivors but she was still afloat when this was over, so Isokaze was ordered to torpedo her at close range. She reported her sunk at 19:15. In total, the aicraft carrier's crew suffered 711-718 losses* over a total of 1,103, Captain Yanagimoto dedciding to remain on board. The death tall was the highest of all the Japanese carriers struck that day at Midway. As the admiralty judged prudent to conceal the defeat, she was only struck from the registry on 10 August 1942.

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❢ Abbreviations & acronyms
    AAAnti-Aircraft
    AAW// warfare
    AASAmphibious Assault Ship
    AdmAdmiral
    AEWAirbone early warning
    AGAir Group
    AFVArmored Fighting Vehicle
    AMGBarmoured motor gunboat
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    APCArmored Personal Carrier
    ASAntisubmarine
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    ASMDAnti Ship Missile Defence
    ASROCASW Rockets
    ASWAnti Submarine Warfare
    ASWRLASW Rocket Launcher
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    avgasAviation Gasoline
    awAbove Waterline
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    bhpbrake horsepower
    BLBreach-loader (gun)
    BLRBreach-loading, Rifled (gun)
    BUBroken Up
    ccirca
    CAArmoured/Heavy cruiser
    Capt.Captain
    CalCaliber or ".php"
    CGMissile Cruiser
    CICCombat Information Center
    C-in-CCommander in Chief
    CIWSClose-in weapon system
    CECompound Expansion (engine)
    ChChantiers ("Yard", FR)
    CLCruiser, Light
    cmcentimeter(s)
    CMBCoastal Motor Boat
    CMSCoastal Minesweeper
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    CpCompound (armor)
    CoCompany
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    CODAGCombined Diesel & Gas
    CODOGCombined Diesel/Gas
    COGAGCombined Gas and Gas
    COGOGCombined Gas/Gas
    commcommissioned
    compcompleted
    convconverted
    convlconventional
    COSAGCombined Steam & Gas
    CRCompound Reciprocating
    CRCRSame, connecting rod
    CruDivCruiser Division
    CPControlled Pitch
    CTConning Tower
    CTLconstructive total loss
    CTOLConv. Take off & landing
    CTpCompound Trunk
    cucubic
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    CVAircraft Carrier
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    fpsFeet Per Second
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    FYFiscal Year
    galgallons
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    HDMLHarbor def. Motor Launch
    H/FHigh Frequency
    HF/DF// Directional Finding
    HMSHer Majesty Ship
    HNHarvey Nickel
    HNCHorizontal non-condensing hp
    HPHigh Pressure
    hphorizontal
    HQHeadquarter
    HRHorizontal reciprocating
    HRCR// connecting rod
    HSHarbor Service
    HS(E)Horizontal single (expansion)
    HSET// trunk
    HTHorizontal trunk
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    ICInverted Compound
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    IFFIdentification Friend or Foe
    ihpindicated horsepower
    IMFInshore Minesweeper
    inInche(s)
    ircironclad
    KCKrupp, cemented
    kgKilogram
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    kmKilometer
    kt(s)Knot(s)
    kwkilowatt
    ibpound(s)
    LALow Angle
    LCLanding Craft
    LCA// Assault
    LCAC// Air Cushion
    LFC// Flak (AA)
    LCG// Gunboat
    LCG(L)/// Large
    LCG(M)/// Medium
    LCG(S)/// Small
    LCI// Infantry
    LCM// Mechanized
    LCP// Personel
    LCP(R)/// Rocket
    LCS// Support
    LCT// Tanks
    LCV// Vehicles
    LCVP/// Personal
    LCU// Utility
    locolocomotive (boiler)
    LSCLanding ship, support
    LSD// Dock
    LSF// Fighter (direction)
    LSM// Medium
    LSS// Stern chute
    LST// Tank
    LSV// Vehicle
    LPlow pressure
    lwllenght waterline
    mmetre(s)
    MModel
    MA/SBmotor AS boat
    maxmaximum
    MGMachine Gun
    MGBMotor Gunboat
    MLSMinelayer/Sweeper
    MLMotor Launch
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    MTMilitary Transport
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    minminute(s)
    MkMark
    MLMuzzle loading
    MLR// rifled
    MSOOcean Minesweeper
    mmmillimetre
    NCnon condensing
    nhpnominal horsepower
    nmNautical miles
    Number
    NBC/ABCNuc. Bact. Nuclear
    NSNickel steel
    NTDSNav.Tactical Def.System
    NyDNaval Yard
    oaOverall
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    pdrpounder
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    psipounds per square inch
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    SSBNBallistic Missile sub.Nuclear
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    shpShaft horsepower
    SHsimple horizontal
    SOSUSSound Surv. System
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    sqsquare
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    subsubmerged
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    TNTTrinitroluene
    TSTraining Ship
    TTTorpedo Tube
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    UHFUltra High Frequency
    VadmVice Admiral
    VCVertical compound
    VCE// expansion
    VDE/ double expansion
    VDSVariable Depth Sonar
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    VLFVery Low Frequency
    VQL/ quadruple expansion
    VSTOLVertical/short take off/landing
    VTE/ triple expansion
    VTOLVertical take off/landing
    VSE/ Simple Expansion
    wksWorks
    wlwaterline
    WTWireless Telegraphy
    xnumber of
    YdYard
    Organizations
    GIUKGreenland-Iceland-UK
    BuShipsBureau of Ships
    DBMGerman Navy League
    GBGreat Britain
    DNCDirectorate of Naval Construction
    EEZExclusive Economic Zone
    FAAFleet Air Arm
    FNFLFree French Navy
    JMSDFJap.Mar.Self-Def.Force
    MDAPMutual Def.Assistance Prog.
    MSAMaritime Safety Agency
    NATO
    RAFRoyal Air Force
    RANRoyal Australian Navy
    RCNRoyal Canadian Navy
    R&DResearch & Development
    RNRoyal Navy
    RNZNRoyal New Zealand Navy
    ussrUnion of Socialist Republics
    UE/EECEuropean Union/Comunity
    UNUnited Nations Org.
    USNUnited States Navy
    WaPacWarsaw Pact

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⚔ Crimean War

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⚑ 1870 Fleets

Spanish Navy 1870 Armada Espanola ☍ See the Page
  • Numancia (1863)
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  • Arapiles (1864)
  • Zaragosa (1867)
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  • Spanish wooden s. frigates (1861-65)
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Austro-Hungarian Navy 1870 K.u.K. Kriegsmarine
Danish Navy 1870 Dansk Marine
  • Dannebrog (1863)
  • Peder Skram (1864)
  • Danmark (1864)
  • Rolf Krake (1864)
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  • Jylland CR (1860)
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  • Dagmar SP (1861)
  • Absalon class GB (1862)
  • Fylla class GB (1863)
Hellenic Navy 1870 Nautiko Hellenon
  • Basileos Giorgios (1867)
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Koninklije Marine 1870 Koninklije Marine 1870
  • Dutch Screw Frigates & corvettes
  • De Ruyter Bd Ironclad (1863)
  • Prins H. der Neth. Turret ship (1866)
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Marine Française 1870 Marine Nationale ☍ See the Page
  • Screw 3-deckers (1850-58)
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  • Gloire class Bd. Ironclads (1859)
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Marinha do Brasil 1870 Marinha do Brasil
  • Barrozo class (1864)
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Turkish Ottoman navy 1870 Osmanlı Donanması
  • Osmanieh class Bd.Ironclads (1864)
  • Assari Tewfik (1868)
  • Assari Shevket class Ct. Ironclads (1868)
  • Lufti Djelil class CDS (1868)
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  • Messudieh class Ct.Bat.ships (1874)
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  • Abdul Kadir Battleships (project)

  • Frigate Ertrogul (1863)
  • Selimieh (1865)
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Turkish Ottoman navy 1870 Marina Do Peru
  • Monitor Atahualpa (1865)
  • CT. Bat Independencia (1865)
  • Turret ship Huascar (1865)
  • Frigate Apurimac (1855)
  • Corvette America (1865)
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Portuguese Navy 1870 Marinha do Portugal
  • Bartolomeu Dias class (28-guns) steam frigates
  • Sagris (14 guns) steam corvette
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  • Dom Fernando I e Gloria (50) Sailing Frigate
  • Dom Joao I class (14 guns) Sailing corvettes
  • Portuguese Side-wheel steamers
Regia Marina 1870 Regia Marina 1870
Imperial Japanese navy 1870 Nihhon Kaigun 1870
  • Ironclad Ruyjo (1868)
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  • Frigate Fujiyama (1864)
  • Frigate Kasuga (1863)
  • Corvette Asama (1869)
  • Gunboat Raiden (1856)
  • Gunboat Chiyodogata (1863)
  • Teibo class GB (1866)
  • Gunboat Mushun (1865)
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Prussian Navy 1870 Preußische Marine 1870
  • Prinz Adalbert (1864)
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  • Nymphe class Frigates (1863)
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Russian mperial Navy 1870 Russkiy Flot 1870
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  • Pervenetz class (1863)
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Swedish Navy 1870 Svenska marinen
  • Ericsson class monitors (1865)
  • Frigate Karl XIV (1854)
  • Frigate Stockholm (1856)
  • Corvette Gefle (1848)
  • Corvette Orädd (1853)
Norwegian Navy 1870 Søværnet
  • Skorpionen class (1866)
  • Frigate Stolaf (1856)
  • Frigate Kong Sverre (1860)
  • Frigate Nordstjerna (1862)
  • Frigate Vanadis (1862)
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Union Union Navy ☍ See the Page
Confederate Confederate Navy ☍ See the Page
Union 'Old Navy'(1865-1885) ☍ See the Page
  • Dunderberg Bd Ironclad (1865)
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  • Frigate Chattanooga & Idaho (1864)
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  • Java class frigates (1865)
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  • Alaska class sloops (1868)
  • Galena class sloops (1873)
  • Enterprise class sloops (1874)
  • Alert class sloops (1873)
  • Alarm torpedo ram (1873)
  • Intrepid torpedo ram (1874)

⚑ 1890 Fleets

Argentinian Navy 1898 Armada de Argentina
  • Parana class (1873)
  • La Plata class (1875)
  • Pilcomayo class (1875)
  • Ferre class (1880)
Austro-Hungarian Navy 1898 K.u.K. Kriegsmarine
  • Custoza (1872)
  • Erzherzog Albrecht (1872)
  • Kaiser (1871)
  • Kaiser Max class (1875)
  • Tegetthoff (1878)

  • Radetzky(ii) class (1872)
  • SMS Donau(ii) (1874)
  • SMS Donau(iii) (1893)

  • Erzherzog Friedrich class (1878)
  • Saida (1878)
  • Fasana (1870)
  • Aurora class (1873)
Chinese Imperial Navy 1898 Imperial Chinese Navy
  • Hai An class frigates (1872)
Danish Navy 1898 Dansk Marine
  • Tordenskjold (1880)
  • Iver Hvitfeldt (1886)
  • Skjold (1896)
  • Cruiser Fyen (1882)
  • Cruiser Valkyrien (1888)
Hellenic Navy 1898 Nautiko Hellenon
  • Spetsai class (1889)
  • Nauarchos Miaoulis (1889)
  • Greek Torpedo Boats (1881-85)
  • Greek Gunboats (1861-84)
Haitian Navy 1914Marine Haitienne
  • Gunboat St Michael (1970)
  • Gunboat "1804" (1875)
  • Gunboat Dessalines (1883)
  • Gunboat Toussaint Louverture (1886)
Koninklije Marine 1898 Koninklije Marine
  • Konigin der Netherland (1874)
  • Draak, monitor (1877)
  • Matador, monitor (1878)
  • R. Claeszen, monitor (1891)
  • Evertsen class CDS (1894)
  • Atjeh class cruisers (1876)
  • Cruiser Sumatra (1890)
  • Cruiser K.W. Der. Neth (1892)
  • Banda class Gunboats (1872)
  • Pontania class Gunboats (1873)
  • Gunboat Aruba (1873)
  • Hydra Gunboat class (1873)
  • Batavia class Gunboats (1877)
  • Wodan Gunboat class (1877)
  • Ceram class Gunboats (1887)
  • Combok class Gunboats (1891)
  • Borneo Gunboat (1892)
  • Nias class Gunboats (1895)
  • Koetei class Gunboats (1898)
  • Dutch sloops (1864-85)
Marine Française 1898 Marine Nationale ☍ See the Page
  • Friedland CT Battery ship (1873)
  • Richelieu CT Battery ship (1873)
  • Colbert class CT Battery ships (1875)
  • Redoutable CT Battery ship (1876)
  • Courbet class CT Battery ships (1879)
  • Amiral Duperre barbette ship (1879)
  • Terrible class barbette ships (1883)
  • Amiral Baudin class barbette ships (1883)
  • Barbette ship Hoche (1886)
  • Marceau class barbette ships (1888)

  • Cerbere class Arm.Ram (1870)
  • Tonnerre class Br.Monitors (1875)
  • Tempete class Br.Monitors (1876)
  • Tonnant ironclad (1880)
  • Furieux ironclad (1883)
  • Fusee class Arm.Gunboats (1885)
  • Acheron class Arm.Gunboats (1885)
  • Jemmapes class (1892)
  • Bouvines class (1892)

  • La Galissonière Cent. Bat. Ironclads (1872)
  • Bayard class barbette ships (1879)
  • Vauban class barbette ships (1882)
  • Prot. Cruiser Sfax (1884)
  • Prot. Cruiser Tage (1886)
  • Prot. Cruiser Amiral Cécille (1888)
  • Prot. Cruiser Davout (1889)
  • Forbin class Cruisers (1888)
  • Troude class Cruisers (1888)
  • Alger class Cruisers (1891)
  • Friant class Cruisers (1893)
  • Prot. Cruiser Suchet (1893)
  • Descartes class Cruisers (1893)
  • Linois class Cruisers (1896)
  • D'Assas class Cruisers (1896)
  • Catinat class Cruisers (1896)

  • R. de Genouilly class Cruisers (1876)
  • Cruiser Duquesne (1876)
  • Cruiser Tourville (1876)
  • Cruiser Duguay-Trouin (1877)
  • Laperouse class Cruisers (1877)
  • Villars class Cruisers (1879)
  • Cruiser Iphigenie (1881)
  • Cruiser Naiade (1881)
  • Cruiser Arethuse (1882)
  • Cruiser Dubourdieu (1884)
  • Cruiser Milan (1884)

  • Parseval class sloops (1876)
  • Bisson class sloops (1874)
  • Epee class gunboats (1873)
  • Crocodile class gunboats (1874)
  • Tromblon class gunboats (1875)
  • Condor class Torpedo Cruisers (1885)
  • G. Charmes class gunboats (1886)
  • Inconstant class sloops (1887)
  • Bombe class Torpedo Cruisers (1887)
  • Wattignies class Torpedo Cruisers (1891)
  • Levrier class Torpedo Cruisers (1891)
Marinha do Brasil 1898 Marinha do Brasil
Marinha do Portugal 1898 Marinha do Portugal
Marina de Mexico 1898 Mexico
  • GB Indipendencia (1874)
  • GB Democrata (1875)
Turkish Ottoman navy 1898 Osmanlı Donanması
  • Cruiser Heibtnuma (1890)
  • Cruiser Lufti Humayun (1892)
  • Cruiser Hadevendighar (1892)
  • Shadieh class cruisers (1893)
  • Turkish TBs (1885-94)
Regia Marina 1898 Regia Marina
  • Pr. Amadeo class (1871)
  • Caio Duilio class (1879)
  • Italia class (1885)
  • Ruggero di Lauria class (1884)
  • Carracciolo (1869)
  • Vettor Pisani (1869)
  • Cristoforo Colombo (1875)
  • Flavio Goia (1881)
  • Amerigo Vespucci (1882)
  • C. Colombo (ii) (1892)
  • Pietro Micca (1876)
  • Tripoli (1886)
  • Goito class (1887)
  • Folgore class (1887)
  • Partenope class (1889)
  • Giovanni Bausan (1883)
  • Etna class (1885)
  • Dogali (1885)
  • Piemonte (1888)
  • Staffeta (1876)
  • Rapido (1876)
  • Barbarigo class (1879)
  • Messagero (1885)
  • Archimede class (1887)
  • Guardiano class GB (1874)
  • Scilla class GB (1874)
  • Provana class GB (1884)
  • Curtatone class GB (1887)
  • Castore class GB (1888)
Imperial Japanese navy 1898 Nihhon Kaigun
  • Ironclad Fuso (1877)
  • Kongo class Ironclads (1877)

  • Cruiser Tsukushi (1880)
  • Cruiser Takao (1888)
  • Cruiser Yaeyama (1889)
  • Cruiser Chishima (1890)
  • Cruiser Tatsuta (1894)
  • Cruiser Miyako (1898)

  • Frigate Nisshin (1869)
  • Frigate Tsukuba (acq.1870)
  • Kaimon class CVT (1882)
  • Katsuragi class SCVT (1885)
  • Sloop Seiki (1875)
  • Sloop Amagi (1877)
  • Corvette Jingei (1876)
  • Gunboat Banjo (1878)
  • Maya class GB (1886)
  • Gunboat Oshima (1891)
German Navy 1898 Kaiserliche Marine
  • Ironclad Hansa (1872)
  • G.Kurfürst class (1873)
  • Kaiser class (1874)
  • Sachsen class (1877)
  • Ironclad Oldenburg (1884)

  • Ariadne class CVT (1871)
  • Leipzig class CVT (1875)
  • Bismarck class CVT (1877)
  • Carola class CVT (1880)
  • Corvette Nixe (1885)
  • Corvette Charlotte (1885)
  • Schwalbe class Cruisers (1887)
  • Bussard class (1890)

  • Aviso Zieten (1876)
  • Blitz class Avisos (1882)
  • Aviso Greif (1886)
  • Wacht class Avisos (1887)
  • Meteor class Avisos (1890)
  • Albatross class GBT (1871)
  • Cyclop GBT (1874)
  • Otter GBT (1877)
  • Wolf class GBT (1878)
  • Habitch class GBT (1879)
  • Hay GBT (1881)
  • Eber GBT (1881)
  • Rhein class Monitors (1872)
  • Wespe class Monitors (1876)
  • Brummer class Arm.Steamers (1884)
Russian Imperial Navy 1898 Russkiy Flot
Marina do Peru Marina Do Peru
  • Lima class Cruisers (1880)
  • Chilean TBs (1879)
Swedish Navy 1898 Svenska Marinen
Norwegian Navy 1898 Søværnet
  • Lindormen (1868)
  • Gorm (1870)
  • Odin (1872)
  • Helgoland (1878)
  • Tordenskjold (1880)
  • Iver Hvitfeldt (1886)
Royal Navy 1898 Royal Navy 1898
  • Hotspur (1870)
  • Glatton (1871)
  • Devastation class (1871)
  • Cyclops class (1871)
  • Rupert (1874)
  • Neptune class (1874)
  • Dreadnought (1875)
  • Inflexible (1876)
  • Agamemnon class (1879)
  • Conqueror class (1881)
  • Colossus class (1882)
  • Admiral class (1882)
  • Trafalgar class (1887)
  • Victoria class (1890)
  • Royal Sovereign class (1891)
  • Centurion class (1892)
  • Renown (1895)

  • HMS Shannon (1875)
  • Nelson class (1876)
  • Iris class (1877)
  • Leander class (1882)
  • Imperieuse class (1883)
  • Mersey class (1885)
  • Surprise class (1885)
  • Scout class (1885)
  • Archer class (1885)
  • Orlando class (1886)
  • Medea class (1888)
  • Barracouta class (1889)
  • Barham class (1889)
  • Pearl class (1889)
  • 1870-90 Torpedo Boats
  • Spanish Navy 1898 Armada 1898
    • Ironclad Pelayo (1887)

    • Aragon class (1879)
    • Velasco class (1881)
    • Isla de Luzon (1886)
    • Alfonso XII class (1887)
    • Reina Regentes class (1887)
    • Infanta Maria Teresa class (1890)
    • Emperador Carlos V (1895)
    • Cristobal Colon (1896)
    • Princesa de Asturias class (1896)

    • Destructor class (1886)
    • Temerario class (1891)
    • TGunboat Filipinas (1892)
    • De Molina class (1896)
    • Furor class (1896)
    • Audaz class (1897)
    • Spanish TBs (1878-87)
    • Fernando class gunboats (1875)
    • Concha class gunboats (1883)
    US Navy 1898 1898 US Navy US Navy 1898☍ See the Page
    • USS Maine (1889)
    • USS Texas (1892)
    • Indiana class (1893)
    • USS Iowa (1896)

    • Amphitrite class (1876)
    • USS Puritan (1882)
    • USS Monterey (1891)

    • Atlanta class (1884)
    • USS Chicago (1885)
    • USS Charleston (1888)
    • USS Baltimore (1888)
    • USS Philadelphia (1889)
    • USS San Francisco (1889)
    • USS Newark (1890)
    • USS New York (1891)
    • USS Olympia (1892)
    • Cincinatti class (1892)
    • Montgomery class (1893)
    • Columbia class (1893)
    • USS Brooklyn (1895)

    • USS Vesuvius (1888)
    • USS Katahdin (1893)
    • USN Torpedo Boats (1886-1901)
    • GB USS Dolphin (1884)
    • Yorktown class GB (1888)
    • GB USS Petrel (1888)
    • GB USS Bancroft (1892)
    • Machias class GB (1891)
    • GB USS Nashville (1895)
    • Wilmington class GB (1895)
    • Annapolis class GB (1896)
    • Wheeling class GB (1897)
    • Small gunboats (1886-95)
    • St Louis class AMC (1894)
    • Harvard class AMC (1888)
    • USN Armoured Merchant Cruisers
    • USN Armed Yachts

    WW1

    ☉ Entente Fleets

    US ww1 US Navy ☍ See the Page
    British ww1 Royal Navy ☍ See the Page
    French ww1 Marine Nationale ☍ See the Page
    Japan ww1 Nihhon Kaigun ☍ See the Page
    Russia ww1 Russkiy Flot ☍ See the Page
    Italy ww1 Regia Marina

    ✠ Central Empires

    German Navy 1914 Kaiserliche Marine
    austria-hungary ww1 KuK Kriesgmarine
    turkey ww1 Osmanli Donmanasi
    • Barbarossa class battleships (1892)
    • Yavuz (1914)
    • Cruiser Mecidieh (1903)
    • Cruiser Hamidieh (1903)
    • Cruiser Midilli (1914)
    • Namet Torpedo cruisers (1890)
    • Sahahani Deria Torpedo cruisers (1892)
    • Destroyers class Berk-Efshan (1894)
    • Destroyers class Yarishar (1907)
    • Destroyers class Muavenet (1909)
    • Berk i Savket class Torpedo gunboats (1906)
    • Marmaris gunboat (1903)
    • Sedd ul Bahr class gunboats (1907)
    • Isa Reis class gunboats (1911)
    • Preveze class gunboats (1912)
    • Turkish WW1 Torpedo Boats
    • Turkish Armed Yachts (1861-1903)
    • Turkish WW1 Minelayers

    ⚑ Neutral Countries

    Americas
    Argentinian navy Argentina
    Brazilian Navy Brazil
    Chilean Navy 1914 Chile
    Cuban Navy 1914 Cuba
    • Gunboat Baire (1906)
    • Gunboat Patria (1911)
    • Diez de octubre class GB (1911)
    • Sloop Cuba (1911)
    Haitian Navy 1914 Haiti
    • Gunboat Dessalines (1883)
    • GB Toussaint Louverture (1886)
    • GB Capois la Mort (1893)
    • GB Crete a Pierot (1895)
    Mexican Navy Mexico
    • Cruiser Zatagosa (1891)
    • GB Plan de Guadalupe (1892)
    • Tampico class GB (1902)
    • N. Bravo class GB (1903)
    Peruvian Navy 1914 Peru
    • Almirante Grau class (1906)
    • Ferre class subs. (1912)
    Europe
    Bulgarian Navy Bulgaria
    • Cruiser Nadezhda (1898)
    • Drski class TBs (1906)
    Danish Navy 1914 Denmark
    • Skjold class (1896)
    • Herluf Trolle class (1899)
    • Herluf Trolle (1908)
    • Niels Iuel (1918)
    • Hekla class cruisers (1890)
    • Valkyrien class cruisers (1888)
    • Fyen class crusiers (1882)
    • Danish TBs (1879-1918)
    • Danish Submarines (1909-1920)
    • Danish Minelayer/sweepers
    Greek Royal Navy Greece
    Dutch Empire Navy 1914 Netherlands
    • Eversten class (1894)
    • Konigin Regentes class (1900)
    • De Zeven Provincien (1909)
    • Dutch dreadnought (project)
    • Holland class cruisers (1896)
    • Fret class destroyers
    • Dutch Torpedo boats
    • Dutch gunboats
    • Dutch submarines
    • Dutch minelayers
    Norwegian Navy 1914 Norway
    • Haarfarge class (1897)
    • Norge class (1900)
    • Norwegian Monitors
    • Cr. Frithjof (1895)
    • Cr. Viking (1891)
    • DD Draug (1908)
    • Norwegian ww1 TBs
    • Norwegian ww1 Gunboats
    • Sub. Kobben (1909)
    • Ml. Fröya (1916)
    • Ml. Glommen (1917)
    Portuguese navy 1914 Portugal
    • Coastal Battleship Vasco da Gama (1875)
    • Cruiser Adamastor (1896)
    • Sao Gabriel class (1898)
    • Cruiser Dom Carlos I (1898)
    • Cruiser Rainha Dona Amelia (1899)
    • Portuguese ww1 Destroyers
    • Portuguese ww1 Submersibles
    • Portuguese ww1 Gunboats
    Romanian Navy 1914 Romania
    Spanish Armada Spain
    Swedish Navy 1914 Sweden
    Asia
    Chinese navy 1914 China
    Thai Empire Navy 1914 Thailand
    • Maha Chakri (1892)
    • Thoon Kramon (1866)
    • Makrut Rajakumarn (1883)

    ⚏ WW1 3rd/4th rank navies

    ✈ WW1 Naval Aviation

    US naval aviation USN
    • Boeing model 2/3/5 (1916)
    • Aeromarine 39 (1917)
    • Curtiss H (1917)
    • Curtiss F5L (1918)
    • Curtiss VE-7 (1918)
    • Curtiss NC (1918)
    • Curtiss NC4 (1918)
    RNAS RNAS
    • Short 184 (1915)
    • Fairey Campania (1917)
    • Felixtowe F2 (1916)
    • Felixtowe F3 (1917)
    • Felixtowe F5 (1918)
    • Sopwith Baby (1917)
    • Fairey Hamble Baby (1917)
    • Fairey III (1918)
    • Short S38 (1912)
    • Short Admiralty Type 166 (1914)
    • Short Admiralty Type 184 (1915)

    • Blackburn Kangaroo
    • Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter
    • Sopwith Pup
    • Sopwith Cuckoo 1918
    • Royal Aircraft Factory Airships
    German Imperial naval aviation Marineflieger
    • Albatros W.4 (1916)
    • Albatros W.8 (1918)
    • Friedrichshafen Models
    • Gotha WD.1-27 (1918)
    • Hansa-Brandenburg series
    • L.F.G V.19 Stralsund (1918)
    • L.F.G W (1916)
    • L.F.G WD (1917)
    • Lübeck-Travemünde (1914)
    • Oertz W series (1914)
    • Rumpler 4B (1914)
    • Sablatnig SF (1916)
    • Zeppelin-Lindau Rs series
    • Kaiserlichesmarine Zeppelins
    French naval aviation French Naval Aviation
    • Borel Type Bo.11 (1911)
    • Nieuport VI.H (1912)
    • Nieuport X.H (1913)
    • Donnet-Leveque (1913)
    • FBA-Leveque (1913)
    • FBA (1913)
    • Donnet-Denhaut (1915)
    • Borel-Odier Type Bo-T(1916)
    • Levy G.L.40 (1917)
    • Blériot-SPAD S.XIV (1917)
    • Hanriot HD.2 (1918)
    • Zodiac Airships
    Italian naval aviation Italian Naval Aviation
    • Ansaldo SVA Idro (1916)
    • Ansaldo Baby Idro (1915)
    • Macchi M3 (1916)
    • Macchi M5 (1918)
    • SIAI S.12 (1918)
    Russian naval aviation Russian Naval Aviation
    • Grigorovich M-5 (1915)
    • Grigorovich M-9 (1916)
    • Grigorovich M-11 (1916)
    • Grigorovich M-15 (1916)
    • Grigorovich M-16 (1916)
    • Grigorovich M-16 (1916)
    ✠ K.u.K. SeeFliegkorps
    • Lohner E (1914)
    • Lohner L (1915)
    • Oeffag G (1916)
    IJN Aviation IJN Air Service
    • IJN Farman 1914
    • Yokosho Rogou Kougata (1917)
    • Yokosuka Igo-Ko (1920)

    WW2

    ✪ Allied ww2 Fleets

    US ww2 US Navy
    British ww2 Royal Navy ☍ See the Page
    French ww2 Marine Nationale ☍ See the Page
    Soviet ww2 Sovietskiy Flot ☍ See the Page
    Royal Canadian Navy Royal Canadian Navy ☍ See the Page
    Royal Australian Navy Royal Australian Navy ☍ See the Page
    Koninklije Marine, Dutch Navy ww2 Dutch Navy ☍ See the Page
    Chinese Navy Chinese Navy 1937 ☍ See the Page

    ✙ Axis ww2 Fleets

    Japan ww2 Imperial Japanese Navy ☍ See the Page
    italy ww2 Regia Marina ☍ See the Page
    German ww2 Kriegsmarine ☍ See the Page

    ⚑ Neutral Navies

    Armada de Argentina Argentinian Navy ☍ See the Page
    Marinha do Brasil Brazilian Navy ☍ See the Page
    Armada de Chile Chilean Navy ☍ See the Page
    Søværnet Danish Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Niels Iuel (1918)
    • Danish ww2 Torpedo-Boats
    • Danish ww2 submarines
    • Danish ww2 minelayer/sweepers
    Merivoimat Finnish Navy ☍ See the Page
    Hellenic Navy Hellenic Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Greek ww2 Destroyers
    • Greek ww2 submarines
    • Greek ww2 minelayers
    Marynarka Vojenna Polish Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Cruiser ORP Dragon
    • Cruiser ORP Conrad
    • Brislawicka class Destroyers
    • Witcher ww2 Destroyers
    • Minelayer Gryf
    • Wilk class sub.
    • Orzel class sub.
    • Jakolska class minesweepers
    • Polish Monitors
    Portuguese navy ww2 Portuguese Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Douro class DDs
    • Delfim class sub
    • Velho class gb
    • Albuquerque class gb
    • Nunes class sloops
    Romanian Navy Romanian Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Romanian ww2 Destroyers
    • Romanian ww2 Submarines
    Royal Norwegian Navy Sjøforsvaret ☍ See the Page
    • Norwegian ww2 Torpedo-Boats
    Spanish Armada Spanish Armada ☍ See the Page
    Svenska Marinen Svenska Marinen ☍ See the Page
    • Sverige class CBBs (1915)
    • Gustav V class CBBs (1918)
    • Interwar Swedish CBB projects

    • Tre Kronor class (1943)
    • Gotland (1933)
    • Fylgia (1905)

    • Ehrernskjold class DDs (1926)
    • Psilander class DDs (1926)
    • Klas Horn class DDs (1931)
    • Romulus class DDs (1934)
    • Göteborg class DDs (1935)
    • Mode class DDs (1942)
    • Visby class DDs (1942)
    • Öland class DDs (1945)

    • Swedish ww2 TBs
    • Swedish ww2 Submarines
    • Swedish ww2 Minelayers
    • Swedish ww2 MTBs
    • Swedish ww2 Patrol Vessels
    • Swedish ww2 Minesweepers
    Türk Donanmasi Turkish Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Kocatepe class Destroyers
    • Tinaztepe class Destroyers
    • İnönü class submarines
    • Submarine Dumplumpynar
    • Submarine Sakarya
    • Submarine Gur
    • Submarine Batiray
    • Atilay class submarines
    Royal Yugoslav Navy Royal Yugoslav Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Cruiser Dalmacija
    • Dubrovnik class DDs
    • Beograd class DDs
    • Osvetnik class subs
    • Hrabi class subs
    • Gunboat Beli Orao
    Royal Thai Navy Royal Thai Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Taksin class
    • Ratanakosindra class
    • Sri Ayuthia class
    • Puket class
    • Tachin class
    • Sinsamudar class sub
    minor navies Minor Navies ☍ See the Page

    ✈ Naval Aviation

    Latest entries | WW1 | Cold War
    US naval aviation USN aviation ☍ See the Page
    Fleet Air Arm ☍ See the Page
    IJN aviation ☍ See the Page
    • Mitsubishi 1MF (1923)
    • Nakajima A1N (1930)
    • Nakajima A2N (1932)
    • Mitsubishi A5M "Claude" (1935)
    • Nakajima A4N (1935)
    • Mitsubishi A6M "zeke" (1940)
    • Nakajima J1N Gekko "Irving" (1941)
    • Mitsubishi J2M Raiden "Jack" (1942)
    • Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden "George" (1942)
    • Nakajima J5N Tenrai (1944)

    • Aichi S1A Denko* (1944)
    • Mitsubishi A7M reppu* (1944)
    • Mitsubishi J8M1 Shusui* (1945)
    • Mitsubishi J8M2 Shusui-kai* (1945)
    • Kyushu J7W Shinden* (1945)
    • Nakajima J9Y Kikka* (1945)

    • Mitsubishi 1MT (1922)
    • Mitsubishi B1M (1923)
    • Mitsubishi B2M (1932)
    • Kugisho B3Y (1932)
    • Aichi D1A "Susie" (1934)
    • Yokosuka B4Y "Jean" (1935)
    • Mitsubishi B5M "Mabel" (1937)
    • Nakajima B5N "Kate" (1937)
    • Aichi D3A "Val" (1940)
    • Nakajima B6N "Jill" (1941)
    • Aichi B7A "Grace" (1942)
    • Nakajima C6N Saiun "Myrt" (1942)
    • Yokosuka D4Y "Judy" (1942)
    • Yokosuka MXY-7 "Baka" (1944)

    • Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" (1935)
    • Mitsubishi G4M "Betty" (1941)
    • Kawanishi P1Y Ginga "Frances" (1943)
    • Kyushu Q1W Tokai "Lorna" (1943)
    • Tachikawa Ki-74 "Patsy" (1944)
    • Nakajima G8N Renzan "Rita" (1944)

    • Mitsubishi K3M "Pine" (1930)
    • Nakajima C2N1 (1931)
    • Yokosuka K5Y1 "Willow" (1933)
    • Nakajima L1N1 (1937)
    • Kawanishi H6K2/4-L (1938)
    • Kyushu K10W1 "Oak" (1941)
    • Kyushu K11W1 Shiragiku (1942)
    • Mitsubishi L4M1 (1942)
    • Nakajima G5N Shinzan "Liz" (1942)
    • Yokosuka L3Y "Tina" (1942)
    • Kyushu Q1W1-K "Lorna"(1943)
    • Aichi M6A1-K Nanzan (1943)
    • Yokosuka MXY-7K-1 "Kai" (1944)
    • Yokosuka MXY-8 Akigusa (1945)

    • Hiro H1H (1926)
    • Yokosuka E1Y (1926)
    • Nakajima E2N (1927)
    • Aichi E3A (1929)
    • Yokosuka K4Y (1930)
    • Nakajima E4N (1931)
    • Nakajima E8N "Dave" (1935)
    • Kawanishi E7K "Alf" (1935)
    • Kawanishi E11K1 (1937)
    • Aichi E11A "Laura" (1938)
    • Watanabe E9W (1938)
    • Watanabe K8W* (1938)
    • Mitsubishi F1M "pete" (1941)
    • Nakajima E14Y "Glen" (1941)
    • Aichi E13A "Jake" (1941)
    • Aichi H9A (1942)
    • Nakajima A6M2-N (1942)
    • Kawanishi E15K Shiun (1942)
    • Kawanishi N1K1 "Rex" (1943)
    • Aichi E16A "Zuiun" (1944)
    • Aichi M6A1 Seiran (1945)

    • Kawanishi E11K* (1937)
    • Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" (1938)
    • Kawanishi K6K* (1938)
    • Kawanishi H6K3 (1939)
    • Kawanishi K8K (1940)
    • Kawanishi H8K "Emily" (1942)
    • Yokosuka H5Y "Cherry" (1936)

    • Mitsubishi 2MR (1923)
    • Yokosho K1Y (1924)
    • Yokosuka K2Y (1928)
    • Mitsubishi K3M "Pine" (1930)
    • Hitachi LXG1 (1934)
    • Kyushu K10W "Oak" (1943)
    Italian Aviation ☍ See the Page
    French Aeronavale ☍ See the Page
    • Levasseur PL5/9 (1924)
    • Wibault 74 (1926)
    • CAMS 37 (1926)
    • Gourdou-Leseurre GL.300 series (1926-39)
    • Levasseur PL7 (1928)
    • Levasseur PL10 (1929)
    • Latécoere 290 (1931)
    • Breguet 521/22/23 (1931)
    • Leo H257 bis (1932)
    • Latécoere 300 series (1932)
    • Morane 226 (1934)
    • Dewoitine 376 (1934)
    • Latécoere 321 (1935)
    • Potez 452 (1935)
    • Latécoere 38.1 (1936)
    • Loire 210 (1936)
    • Leo H43 (1936)
    • Levasseur PL107 (1937)
    • Loire 130 (1937)
    • Dewoitine HD.730 (1938)
    • Latecoere 298 (1938)
    • LN 401 (1938)
    Soviet Naval Aviation
    Luftwaffe (Naval) ☍ See the Page
    • Arado 197 (1937)
    • Fieseler Fi-167 (1938)
    • Junkers Ju-87C (1938)
    • Messerschmitt Me 109T (1941)
    • Messerschmitt 155 (1944)

    • Heinkel HE 1 (1921)
    • Caspar U1 (1922)
    • Dornier Do J Wal (1922)
    • Dornier Do 16 ‘Wal’ (1923)
    • Heinkel HE 2 (1923)
    • Junkers A 20/Ju 20 (1923)
    • Rohrbach Ro II (1923)
    • Rohrbach Ro III (1924)
    • Dornier Do D (1924)
    • Dornier Do E (1924)
    • Junkers G 24 (1924)
    • Rohrbach Ro IV (1925)
    • Heinkel HD 14 (1925)
    • Heinkel HE 25 (1925)
    • Heinkel HE 26 (1925)
    • Heinkel HE 24 (1926)
    • Heinkel HE 4 (1926)
    • Junkers W 33/34 (1926)
    • Heinkel HE 5 (1926)
    • Rohrbach Ro VII Robbe (1926)
    • Rohrbach Ro V Rocco (1927)
    • Heinkel HE 31 (1927)
    • Heinkel HE 8 (1927)
    • Arado W II (1928)
    • Heinkel HD 9 (1928)
    • Heinkel HD 16 (1928)
    • Heinkel He 55 (1929)
    • Heinkel He 56 (1929)
    • Arado SSD I (1930)
    • Junkers Ju 52w (1930)
    • Heinkel HE 42 (1931)
    • Heinkel He 50 (1931)
    • Heinkel He 59 (1931)
    • Arado Ar 66 (1932)
    • Heinkel He 58 (1932)
    • Junkers Ju 46 (1932)
    • Klemm Kl 35bW (1932)
    • Heinkel He 62 (1932)
    • Heinkel He 60 (1933)
    • Heinkel He 51w (1933)
    • Arado Ar 95 (1937)
    • Arado Ar 196 (1937)
    • Arado Ar 199 (1939)
    • Blohm & Voss Ha 139 (1936)
    • Blohm & Voss BV 138 (1937)
    • Blohm & Voss Ha 140 (1937)
    • Blohm & Voss BV 222 (1938)
    • Blohm & Voss BV 238 (1942)
    • Dornier Do 24/318 (1937)
    • Dornier Do 18 (1935)
    • Dornier Do 26 (1938)
    • Dornier Do 22 (1938)
    • DFS Seeadler (1936)
    • Focke-Wulf Fw 58W (1935)
    • Focke-Wulf Fw 62 (1937)
    • Heinkel He 114 (1936)
    • Heinkel He 115 (1936)
    • Heinkel He 119 (1936)
    Dutch Naval Aviation
    • Fokker W.3 (1915)
    • Fokker T.II (1921)
    • Fokker B.I/III (1922)
    • Fokker B.II (1923)
    • Fokker T.III (1924)
    • Fokker T.IV (1927)
    • Fokker B.IV (1928)
    • Fokker C.VII W (1928)
    • Fokker C.VIII W (1929)
    • Fokker C.XI W (1934)
    • Fokker C.XIV-W (1937)
    • Fokker T.VIII-W (1939)

    ☢ The Cold War

    ☭ WARSAW PACT

    Sovietskaya Flota Sovietskiy flot ☍ See the Page
    Warsaw Pact cold war navy Warsaw Pact Navies ☍ See the Detail
    • Albania
    • Bulgaria
    • Czechoslovakia
    • Hungary
    • Volksmarine East Germany
    • Parchim class corvettes (1985)
    • Hai class sub-chasers (1958)
    • Volksmarine's minesweepers
    • Volksmarine's FAC
    • Volksmarine's Landing ships
    • ORP Warzsawa (1970)
    • ORP Kaszub (1986)
    • Polish Landing ships
    • Polish FACs
    • Polish Patrol ships
    • Polish Minesweepers
    • Missile Destroyer Muntenia (1982)
    • Tetal class Frigates (1981)
    • Romanian river patrol crafts

    ✦ NATO

    bundesmarine Bundesmarine ☍ See the Page
    Dutch Navy Danish Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Hvidbjornen class Frigates (1962)
    • Frigate Beskytteren (1976)
    • Peder Skram class Frigates (1965)
    • Thetis class frigates (1989)
    • Bellona class corvettes (1955)
    • Niels Juel class corvettes (1979)

    • Delfinen class submarines (1958)
    • Narhvalen class submarines (1970)

    • Bille class Torpedo Boats (1946)
    • Flyvefisken class Torpedo Boats (1954)
    • Falken class Torpedo Boats (1960)
    • Soloven class Torpedo Boats (1962)
    • Willemoes class FAC (1976)
    • Flyvefisken class FAC (1989)
    • Daphne class Patrol Boats (1960)
    • Danish Minelayers
    • Danish Minesweepers
    Dutch Navy Dutch Navy ☍ See the Page
    • CV Karel Doorman (1948)
    • De Zeven Provinciën class cruisers (1945)
    • Holland class DDs (1953)
    • Friesland class DDs (1953)
    • Roodfier class Frigates (1953)
    • Frigate Lynx (1954)
    • Van Speijk class Frigates (1965)
    • Tromp class Frigates (1973)
    • Kortenaer class frigates (1976)
    • Van H. class Frigates (1983)
    • K. Doorman class Frigates (1988)
    • Dolfijn clas sub. (1959)
    • Zwaardvis class subs. (1970)
    • Walrus class subs. (1985)
    • ATD Rotterdam (1990s)
    • Dokkum class minesweepers (1954)
    • Alkmaar class minesweepers (1982)
    Hellenic Navy Hellenic Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Hydra class FFs (1990)
    • Greek cold war Subs
    • Greek Amphibious ships
    • Greek MTBs/FACs
    • Greek Patrol Vessels
    Eire Irish Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Eithne class PBs (1983)
    • Cliona class PBs
    • Deidre/Emer class PBs
    • Orla class fast PBs
    Marina Militare Marina Militare ☍ See the Page
      Aircraft Carriers
    • Giuseppe Garibaldi (1983)
    • Conte di Cavour (2004)*
    • Trieste (2022)*
    • Cruisers
    • Missile cruiser Garibaldi (1960)
    • Doria class H. cruisers (1962)
    • Vittorio Veneto (1969)
    • Destroyers

    • Impetuoso class (1956)
    • Impavido class (1957)
    • Audace class (1971)
    • De La Penne class (1989)
    • Orizzonte class (2007)*
    • Frigates
    • Grecale class (1949)
    • Canopo class (1955)
    • Bergamini class (1960)
    • Alpino class (1967)
    • Lupo class (1976)
    • Maestrale class (1981)
    • Bergamini class (2013)*
    • Thaon di Revel class (2020)*
    • Corvettes (OPV)
    • Albatros class (1954)
    • De Cristofaro class (1965)
    • Minerva class (1987)
    • Cassiopeia class (1989)
    • Esploratore class (1997)*
    • Sirio class (2003)*
    • Commandanti class (2004)*
    • Submarines
    • Toti class (1967)
    • Sauro class (1976)
    • Pelosi class (1986)
    • Sauro class (1992)*
    • Todaro class (2006)*
    • Attack/Amphibious ships
    • San Giorgio LSD (1987)
    • Gorgona class CTS (1987)
    • Italian Landing Crafts (1947-2020)
    • Misc. ships
    • Folgore PB (1952)
    • Lampo class PBs (1960)
    • Freccia class PBs (1965)
    • Sparviero class GMHF (1973)
    • Stromboli class AOR (1975)
    • Anteo SRS (1980)
    • Etna class LSS (1988)
    • Vulcano AOR (1998)*
    • Elettra EWSS (2003)*
    • Etna AOR (2021)*
    • Mine warfare ships
    • Lerici class (1982)
    • Gaeta class (1992)*
    Marine Française Marine Nationale ☍ See the Page
      Battleships
    • Jean Bart (1949)
    • Aircraft/Helicopter carriers
    • Dixmude (1946)
    • Arromanches (1946)
    • Lafayette class light carriers (1954)
    • PA 28 class project (1947)
    • Clemenceau class (1957)
    • Jeanne d'Arc (1961)
    • PA 58 (1958)
    • PH 75/79 (1975)
    • Charles de Gaulle (1994)

    • Cruisers
    • De Grasse (1946)
    • Chateaurenault class (1950)
    • Colbert (1956)

    • Destroyers
    • Surcouf class (1953)
    • Duperre class (1956)
    • La Galissonniere class (1960)
    • Suffren class (1965)
    • Aconit (1970)
    • Tourville class (1972)
    • G. Leygues class (1976)
    • Cassard class (1985)

    • Frigates
    • Le Corse class (1952)
    • Le Normand class (1954)
    • Cdt Riviere class (1958)
    • Estiennes D'Orves class (1973)
    • Lafayette class (1990)

    • Corvettes
    • Estiennes D'Orves class (1973)
    • Floreal class (1990)

    • Submarines
    • La Creole class (1940)
    • Narval class (1954)
    • Arethuse class (1957)
    • Daphne class (1959)
    • Gymnote test SSBN (1964)
    • Le Redoutable SSBN (1967)
    • Agosta SSN (1974)
    • Rubis SSN (1979)
    • Amethyste SSN (1988)
    • Le Triomphant SSBN (started 1989)

    • Amphibian Ships
    • Issole (1958)
    • EDIC class (1958)
    • Trieux class (1958)
    • Ouragan lass (1963)
    • Champlain lass (1973)
    • Bougainville (1986)
    • Foudre class (1988)
    • CDIC lass (1989)

    • Misc. ships
    • Le Fougueux class (1958)
    • La Combattante class (1964)
    • Trident class (1976)
    • L'Audacieuse class (1984)
    • Grebe class (1989)
    • Sirius class (1952)
    • Circe class (1972)
    • Eridan class (1979)
    • Vulcain class (1986)
    RCAN RCAN ☍ See the Page
    • HCMS Bonaventure (1957)
    • St Laurent class DDE (1951)
    • Algonquin class DDE (1952)
    • Restigouche class DDs (1954)
    • Mackenzie class DDs (1961)
    • Annapolis class DDH (1963)
    • Iroquois class DDH (1970)

    • River (mod) 1955
    • Tribal class FFs (Pjct)
    • City class DDH (1988)

    • Ojibwa class sub. (1964)
    • Kingston class MCFV (1995)
    Royal Navy Royal Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Cold War Aircraft Carriers
    • Centaur class (1947)
    • HMS Victorious (1957)
    • HMS Eagle (1946)
    • HMS Ark Royal (1950)
    • HMS Hermes (1953)
    • CVA-01 class (1966 project)
    • Invincible class (1977)

    • Cold War Cruisers
    • Tiger class (1945)

    • Destroyers
    • Daring class (1949)
    • 1953 design (project)
    • Cavendish class (1944)
    • Weapon class (1945)
    • Battle class (1945)
    • FADEP program (1946)
    • County class GMD (1959)
    • Bristol class GMD (1969)
    • Sheffield class GMD (1971)
    • Manchester class GMD (1980)
    • Type 43 GMD (1974)

    • British cold-war Frigates
    • Rapid class (1942)
    • Tenacious class (1941)
    • Whitby class (1954)
    • Blackwood class (1953)
    • Leopard class (1954)
    • Salisbury class (1953)
    • Tribal class (1959)
    • Rothesay class (1957)
    • Leander class (1961)
    • BB Leander class (1967)
    • HMS Mermaid (1966)
    • Amazon class (1971)
    • Broadsword class (1976)
    • Boxer class (1981)
    • Cornwall class (1985)
    • Duke class (1987)

    • British cold war Submarines
    • T (conv.) class (1944)
    • T (Stream) class (1945)
    • A (Mod.) class (1944)
    • Explorer class (1954)
    • Strickleback class (1954)
    • Porpoise class (1956)
    • Oberon class (1959)
    • HMS Dreanought SSN (1960)
    • Valiant class SSN (1963)
    • Resolution class SSBN (1966)
    • Swiftsure class SSN (1971)
    • Trafalgar class SSN (1981)
    • Upholder class (1986)
    • Vanguard class SSBN (started)

    • Assault ships
    • Fearless class (1963)
    • HMS Ocean (started)
    • Sir Lancelot LLS (1963)
    • Sir Galahad (1986)
    • Ardennes/Avon class (1976)
    • Brit. LCVPs (1963)
    • Brit. LCM(9) (1980)

    • Minesweepers/layers
    • Ton class (1952)
    • Ham class (1947)
    • Ley class (1952)
    • HMS Abdiel (1967)
    • HMS Wilton (1972)
    • Hunt class (1978)
    • Venturer class (1979)
    • River class (1983)
    • Sandown class (1988)

    • Misc. ships
    • HMS Argus ATS (1988)
    • Ford class SDF (1951)
    • Cormorant class (1985)
    • Kingfisger class (1974)
    • HMS Jura OPV (1975)
    • Island class OPVs (1976)
    • HMS Speedy PHDF (1979)
    • Castle class OPVs (1980)
    • Peacock class OPVs (1982)
    • MBT 538 class (1948)
    • Gay class FACs (1952)
    • Dark class FACs (1954)
    • Bold class FACs (1955)
    • Brave class FACs (1957)
    • Tenacity class PCs (1967)
    • Brave class FPCs (1969)
    Armada de espanola - Spanish cold war navy Spanish Armada ☍ See the Page
    • Dédalo aircraft carrier (1967)
    • Principe de Asturias (1982)

    • Alava class DDs (1946)
    • Audaz class DDs (1955)
    • Oquendo class DDs (1956)
    • Roger de Lauria class (1967)

    • Baleares class FFs (1971)
    • Descubierta class FFs (1978)
    • Numancia class FFs (1987)

    • Pizarro class gunboats (1944)
    • Artevida class Cvs (1952)
    • Serviola class Cvs (1990)
    • Spanish cold-war submarines
    • Spanish FACs
    • Spanish Minesweepers
    Svenska Marinen Svenska Marinen ☍ See the Page
    • Tre Kronor class (1946)
    • Öland class DDs (1945)
    • Halland class DDs (1952) (1945)
    • Ostergotland class DDs (1956)
    • Spica III class Corvettes (1984)
    • Goteborg class Corvettes (1989)

    • U1 class subs (mod.1963)
    • Hajen class subs (1954)
    • Sjoormen class subs (1967)
    • Nacken class subs (1978)
    • Vastergotland class subs (1986)
    • Gotland class subs (1995)

    • T32 class MTBs (1951)
    • T42 class MTBs (1955)
    • Plejad class FACs (1951)
    • Spica I class FACs (1966)
    • Spica II class FACs (1972)
    • Hugin class FACs (1973)
    • Swedish Patrol Boats
    • Swedish minesweepers
    • Swedish Icebreakers
    Taiwanese Navy Taiwanese Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Kwang Hua class FFs (1991)
    • Kwang Hua II class FFs (1993)
    • Hai Lung class sub. (1986)
    • LCU 1466 class LCU (1955)
    • Fuh Chow class FAC
    • Lung Chiang class FAC
    • Hai Ou class FAC(M)
    • MWW 50 class minehunters
    Turkish Navy Turkish Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Berk class FFs (1971)
    • Atilay class sub. (1974)
    • Cakabey class LST
    • Osman Gazi class LST
    • Turkish Fast Attack Crafts
    • Turkish Patrol Boats
    US Navy USN (cold war) ☍ See the Page

    ☯ ASIA

    Chinese Navy ☍ See the Page
    Indian Navy Indian Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Vikrant class CVs (1961)
    • Viraat class CVs (1986)

    • Cruiser Delhi (1948)
    • Cruiser Mysore (1957)
    • Raja class DDs (1949)
    • Rajput class DDs (1980)
    • Delhi class DDs (1990)

    • Khukri class FFs (1956)
    • Talwar class FFs (1958)
    • Brahmaputra class FFs (1957)
    • Nilgiri class FFs (1968)
    • Godavari class FFs (1980)

    • Kusura class subs (1970)
    • Shishumar class subs (1984)
    • Sindhugosh class subs (1986)

    • Indian Amphibious ships
    • Indian corvettes (1969-90)
    • Khukri class corvettes (1989)
    • SDB Mk.2 class PBs (1977)
    • Vikram class OPVs (1979)
    • Sukanya class OPVs (1989)
    Indonesia Indonesian Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Fatahilla class Frigates (1977)
    • Pattimura class corvettes (1956)
    • Indonesian Marines
    • Indonesian Mine Vessels
    • Indonesian FAC/OPVs
    JMSDF JMSDF ☍ See the Page
      JMSDF Destroyers
    • Harukaze class DD (1955)
    • Ayanami class DD (1957)
    • Murasame class DD (1958)
    • Akizuki class DD (1959)
    • Amatukaze missile DD (1963)
    • Yamagumo class DDE (1965)
    • Takatsuki class DD (1966)
    • Minegumo class DDE (1967)
    • Haruna class DDH (1971)
    • Tachikaze class DD (1974)
    • Shirane class DDH (1978)
    • Hatsuyuki class DDs (1980)
    • Hatakaze class DDs (1984)
    • Asigiri class DDs (1986)
    • Kongo class DDs (started 1990)

    • JMSDF Frigates
    • Akebono class FFs (1955)
    • Isuzu class FFs (1961)
    • Chikugo class FFs (1970)
    • Ishikari class FFs (1980)
    • Yubari class FFs (1982)
    • Abukuma class FFs (1988)

    • JMSDF submarines
    • Oyashio class Sub. (1959)
    • Hayashio class Sub. (1961)
    • Natsushio class Sub. (1963)
    • Oshio class Sub. (1964)
    • Uzushio class Sub. (1970)
    • Yushio class Sub. (1979)
    • Harushio class Sub. (1989)

    • JMSDF Misc. ships
    • Japanese Landing Ships
    • Japanese Large Patrol Ships
    • Japanese Patrol Crafts
    • Japanese Minesweepers
    • Japanese Sub-chasers
    North Korean Navy North Korean Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Najin class Frigates
    • Experimental Frigate Soho
    • Sariwan class Corvettes

    • Sinpo class subs.
    • Sang-O class subs.
    • Yono class subs.
    • Yugo class subs.

    • Hungnam class LCM
    • Hante class LST
    • Songjong class HVC
    • Sin Hung/Ku Song FACs
    • Anju class FACs
    • Iwon class FACs
    • Chaho class FACs
    • Hong Jin class FAC-G
    • Sohung class MTBs
    • Sinpo class MTBs
    • Nampo class FALC
    Philippines Navy Philippines Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Datu Kalantian class Frigates (1976)
    • Bacolod City class LS(L)
    • Philippino Patrol Crafts
    Rep. of Korea Navy ROKN ☍ See the Page
    • Ulsan class frigates (1980)
    • Pohang class corvettes (1984)
    • Dong Hae class corvettes (1982)
    • Han Kang class patrol corvettes (1985)
    • Chamsuri (PKM 268) PBs (1978)
    • ROKS coast guard vessels
    • Paek Ku class FAC (1975)
    • Kang Keong class minehunters (1986)
    Taiwanese Navy Taiwanese Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Kwang Hua class FFs (1991)
    • Kwang Hua II class FFs (1993)
    • Hai Lung class sub. (1986)
    • LCU 1466 class LCU (1955)
    • Fuh Chow class FAC
    • Lung Chiang class FAC
    • Hai Ou class FAC(M)
    • MWW 50 class minehunters

    ☪ MIDDLE EAST

    Israeli Navy IDF Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Eilat class Corvettes (1993)
    • SAAR 5 Project
    • SAAR 1 FAC
    • SAAR 4 FAC
    • SAAR 4.5 FAC
    • Dvora class FAC
    • Shimrit class MHFs
    • IDF FACs/PBs
    • Etzion Geber LST
    • Ash class LCT
    Iranian Navy Iranian Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Destroyer Artemiz (1965)
    • Bayandor class FFs (1963)
    • Alvand class FFs (1969)
    • Khalije Fars class DDs (2016)*

    ♅ OCEANIA

    Australian Navy RAN ☍ See the Page
    • HMAS Sydney (1948*)
    • HMAS Melbourne (1955*)
    • Tobruk class DDs (1947)
    • Voyager class DDs (1952)
    • Perth class MDD (1963)
    • Quadrant class FFs (1953)
    • Yarra class FFs (1958)
    • Swan class FFs (1967)
    • Adelaide class MFFs (1978)
    • Anzac class MFFs (1990s)
    • Oxley class subs (1965)
    • Collins class subs (1990s)
    • Australian Amphibious ships
    • Fremantle class PBs
    RNZN Royal New Zealand Navy ☍ See the Page
    • HMNZS Royalist (1956)
    • Pukaki class patrol Crafts (1974)
    • Moa class patrol crafts (1983)
    • HMNZS Aotearoa (2019)*

    ☩ South America

    Armada de argentina Argentina ☍ See the Page
    • ARA Independencia (1958)
    • ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (1968)
    • Belgrano class cruisers (1951)
    • Almirante Brown class Frigates (1981)
    • Mantilla class corvettes (1981)
    • Espora class corvettes (1982)
    • Salta class submarines (1972)
    • Santa Cruz class submarines (1982)
    Brazilian Navy Brazilian Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Minas Gerais aircraft carrier (1956)
    • Cruiser Barroso (1951)
    • Cruiser Tamandare (1951)
    • Acre class destroyers (1945)
    • Niteroi class Frigates (1974)
    • Ihnauma class Frigate (1986)
    • Tupi class submarines (1987)
    • Brazilian patrol ships
    Chilean Navy Chilean Navy ☍ See the Page
    • O'Higgins class cruisers
    • Lattore Cruiser (1971)
    • Almirante class destroyers (1960)
    • Prat class M. Destroyers (1982)
    • Almirante Lynch class Frigates (1972)
    • Thomson class subs (1982)
    • Small surface combatants
    Peruvian Navy Peruvian Navy ☍ See the Page
    • Almirante Grau(ii) class
    • Almirante Grau(iii) class
    • Abtao class sub.
    • PR-72P class corvettes
    • Velarde class OPVs

    ℣ AFRICA

    Egyptian Navy Egyptian Navy ☍ See the Page
    • October class FAC/M (1975)
    • Ramadan class FAC/M (1979)
    SADF South African Navy ☍ See the Page
    ☫ Minor cold war/modern Navies Algerian NavyAzerbaijani NavyBangladesh NavyBarheini NavyBolivian NavyCambodian NavyComoros NavyCosta Rica NavyCroatian NavyCuban NavyDjibouti NavyDominican Republic NavyEquadorian NavyEstonian NavyEthiopian NavyFinnish NavyGeorgian NavyHaitian NavyHonduras NavyIcelandic NavyIraqi NavyJordanian NavyKuwaiti NavyLatvian NavyLebanese NavyLiberian NavyLibyan NavyLithuanian NavyMauritanian NavyMexican NavyMorrocan NavyNicaraguan NavyNorwegian NavyOmani NavyPakistani NavyParaguaian NavyQatari NavySan Salvador NavySaudi NavySerbian NavySingaporean NavySlovenian NavySomalian NavySudanese NavySyrian NavyThai NavyTunisian NavyUAE NavyUruguayan NavyVenezuelan NavyVietnamese NavyYemeni NavyZanzibar Navy

    ✚ MORE

    ⚔ Cold War Naval Events
    • ⚔ Indochina War naval ops
    • ⚔ Korean War naval ops
    • ⚔ 1956 intervention in Suez
    • ⚔ 1960 Cuban crisis
    • ⚔ 1960 US/Soviet compared strenghts
    • ⚔ 1963-69 Algerian war naval ops
    • ⚔ Naval warfare in Vietnam
    • ⚔ Middle East naval fights
    • ⚔ 1980 Falkland wars
    • ⚔ 1990 Gulf War
    ⚔ Modern Navies
    ✈ Cold War Naval Aviation See the full section
    Seaplanes
    • Grumman Mallard 1946
    • Edo OSE-1 1946
    • Short Solent 1946

    • de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver 1947
    • Grumman Albatross 1947
    • Hughes H-4 Hercules (completed & first flight, prototype)
    • Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 1947 (jet fighter seaplane prototype)
    • Short Sealand 1947

    • Martin P5M Marlin 1948
    • Supermarine Seagull ASR-1 1948 (prototype successor to the Walrus)
    • Nord 1400 Noroit 1949
    • Norsk Flyindustri Finnmark 5A (interesting Norwegian prototype)
    • SNCASE SE-1210 French prototype flying boat 1949

    • Convair R3Y Tradewind USN patrol flying boat 1950
    • Goodyear Drake (proto seaboat) 1950
    • de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter 1951 (RCAN)
    • Saunders-Roe Princess 1952 (RN requisition possible)

    • Convair F2Y Sea Dart Prototype delta jet fighter seaplane 1953
    • Martin P6M SeaMaster strategic bomber flying boat 1955

    • Ikarus Kurir H 1957

    • Shin Meiwa UF-XS prototype 1962
    • Shin Meiwa PS-1 patrol flying boat 1967
    • Canadair CL-215 1967 water bomber, some operated by the RCAN
    • GAF Nomad patrol australian land/floatplane 1971
    • Harbin SH-5 Main PLAN patrol flying boat 1976
    • Cessna 208 Caravan transport flotplane (some navies) 1982
    • Dornier Seastar prototype 1984

    • Patrol Planes
    • ATR 42 MP Surveyor (Italy, 1984)
    • ATR 72 MP (Italy 1988)

    • ATR 72 ASW (France, 1988)
    • Breguet Atlantic (France 1965)
    • Nord 1402 Noroit (France 1949)

    • Avro Shackleton (UK 1949)
    • BAE Nimrod MRA4 (UK 2004)
    • Britten-Norman Defender/Islander (UK 1970)
    • Fairey Gannet (UK 1949)
    • Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod (UK 1967)

    • Beechcraft King Air (USA 1963)
    • Basler BT-67 (USA 1990)
    • Boeing 737 Surveiller (USA 1967)
    • Boeing P-8 Poseidon (USA 2009)
    • Lockheed P-2 Neptune (USA, 1945)
    • Lockheed P-3 Orion (USA 1959)
    • Martin P4M Mercator (USA 1946)
    • Convair P5Y (USA 1950)
    • Douglas/BSAS Turbo Dakota (USA 1991)

    • Bombardier DHC-8 MPA/MSA (Can 2007)
    • Canadair CP-107 Argus (Can 1957)

    • CASA C-212 MPA (Spain 1971)
    • CASA/IPTN CN-235 MPA/HC-144 Ocean Sentry (Spain 1983)
    • CASA C-295 MPA (Spain 1997)

    • Diamond DA42 Guardian (Austria 2002)

    • Dornier 228 (Germany 1981)

    • Embraer EMB 111 Bandeirante (Brazil 1968)
    • Embraer R-99 (Brazil 2001)
    • Embraer P-99 (Brazil 2003)

    • Fokker F27 200-MAR (NL 1955)
    • Fokker F27 Maritime Enforcer (NL 1955)

    • IAI 1124N Sea Scan (Israel 1977)

    • Kawasaki P-1 (Japan 2007)
    • Kawasaki P-2J (Japan 1966)

    • Saab Swordfish (Sweden 2016)
    • Shaanxi Y-8F,Q,X (China 1984)
    • Short Seavan (UK 1976)

    • Beriev Be-8 1947
    • Beriev Be-6 1949
    • Beriev R-1 turbojet prototype seaplane 1952
    • Beriev Be-10 1956
    • Beriev Be-12 Chaika 1960
    • Beriev Be-40/A-40 Albatross prototypes 1986
    • Chetverikov TA-1 1947
    • Ilyushin Il-38 'May' (USSR 1967)
    • Myasishchev 3M/3MD (USSR 1956)
    • Tupolev Tu-16T/PL/R/RM/SP (USSR 1952)
    • Tupolev Tu-95MR (USSR 1961)
    • Tupolev Tu-142 (USSR 1968)

    • Carrier Planes
      USN
    • Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
    • Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
    • Douglas A2D Skyshark
    • Douglas AD Skyraider
    • Douglas F3D Skynight
    • Douglas F4D Skyray
    • Grumman A-6 Intruder
    • Grumman AF Guardian
    • Grumman C-1 Trader
    • Grumman C-2 Greyhound
    • Grumman E-1 Tracer
    • Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
    • Grumman EA-6B Prowler
    • Grumman F-9 Cougar
    • Grumman F9F Panther
    • Grumman F-11 Tiger
    • Grumman F-14 Tomcat ➚
    • Grumman S-2 Tracker
    • Lockheed Martin F-35B
    • Lockheed S-3 Viking ➚
    • McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
    • McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk
    • McDonnell FH Phantom
    • McDonnell F2H Banshee
    • McDonnell F3H Demon
    • McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier II
    • McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
    • North American A-5 Vigilante
    • North American AJ Savage
    • North American FJ Fury
    • North American T-2 Buckeye
    • North American T-28 Trojan
    • Vought A-7 Corsair
    • Vought F-8 Crusader
    • Vought F6U Pirate
    • Vought F7U Cutlass
    • Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
    • Boeing EA-18G Growler
    • RN
    • Blackburn Buccaneer
    • Boulton Paul Sea Balliol
    • BAe Sea Harrier
    • de Havilland Sea Vampire
    • de Havilland Sea Venom
    • de Havilland Sea Vixen
    • Fairey Gannet
    • Hawker Sea Hawk
    • Short Seamew
    • Westland Wyvern
    • Marine Nationale
    • Breguet Alizé
    • Dassault Étendard IV
    • Dassault Super Étendard
    • Dassault Rafale M
    • Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr M
    • SNCASE Aquilon
    • Soviet Navy
    • Sukhoi Su-25UTG/UBP
    • Sukhoi Su-33
    • Yakovlev Yak-38

    Navy Helicopters
      Chinese PLAN:
    • Harbin Z-5 (1958)
    • Harbin Z-9 Haitun (1981)
    • Changhe Z-8 (1985)
    • Harbin Z-20 (in development)
    • Italy:
    • Agusta Bell AB-205 (1961)
    • Agusta Bell AB-212 (1971)
    • Agusta AS-61 (1968)
    • India:
    • Hal Dhruv (Indian Navy)
    • France:
    • Alouette II (1955)
    • Alouette III (1959)
    • Super Frelon (1965)

    • Cougar ()
    • Panther ()
    • Super Cougar H225M ()
    • Fennec ()
    • MH-65 Dolphin ()
    • UH-72 Lakota ()
    • Germany:
    • MBB Bo 105 (1967)
    • NHIndustries NH90
    • Japan:
    • Mitsubishi H-60 (1987)
    • Poland:
    • PZL W-3 Sokół (1979)
    • Romania:
    • IAR 330M (1975)
    • United Kingdom:
    • Westland Lynx (1971)
    • Westland Scout (1960) RAN
    • Westland Sea King (1969)
    • Westland Wasp (1962)
    • Westland Wessex (1958)
    • Westland Whirlwind (1953)
    • Westland WS-51 Dragonfly (1948)
    • USA:
    • Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH
    • Hiller ROE Rotorcycle (1956)
    • Piasecki HRP Rescuer (1945)
    • Bell UH-1N Twin Huey (1969)
    • SH-2 Seasprite (1959)
    • SH-2G Super Seasprite (1982)
    • CH-53 Sea Stallion (1966)
    • SH-60 Seahawk (1979)
    • Sikorsky S-61R (1959)
    • MH-53E Sea Dragon (1974)
    • ussr:
    • Kamov Ka 20 (1958)
    • Ka-25 "Hormone" (1960)
    • Ka-27 "Helix" (1973)
    • Ka-31 (1987)
    • Ka-35 (2015)
    • Ka-40 (1990)
    • Mil-Mi 2 (1949)
    • Mil Mi-4 (1952)
    Civilian ♆ WW1 US Shipping Board
    MORE !