admin7126 Japan, 1937-44. Zuihō (瑞鳳), Shōhō (祥鳳) The double life of the Zuihō pair Digitally colorized photo of IJN Shoho in December, 20, 1941 at Yokosuka by irootoko Jr. Always keen on cheating on the Washington Naval Treaty, the IJN staff planned a way to circumvent the limitations imposed upon them, by crating “convertible” vessels, declared … Read more
United Kingdom (1902-1922) King Edward VII, Commonwealth, Dominion, Hindustan, Britannia, New Zealand, Africa, Hibernia The tipping point of British pre-dreadnoughts The eight battleships of the King Edward VII were the pinnacle of British capital ship development in their age, as the lead ship was launched in 1903. They retook the lead over innovative designs to … Read more
Kōtetsu (1864) Japanese Ironclad 1862-1888. The twisted origins of the first Japanese Ironclad The “ship with five lives” Kotetsu was quite unique as being an ironclad changing at least five or six times names and flags during her 20-years long career. She was planned for the Confederate navy under cover, first laid down as the … Read more
Dédalo (1920) Spanish Armada (1920-1940) The world’s first “helicopter carrier” The title, which is abusive given the hybrid nature of the Autogyro, predated the WW2 IJN Akitsu Maru, which also used autogyro and was in addition an amphibious assault ship in the modern sense. At least this was the first ship in Europe to deploy … Read more
Nazi Germany, 1,170 planned, 118 completed (1944) The Elektroboot saga: Too late to win The Type XXI were large scale production Kriegsmarine’s “wunderwaffe” planned by Nazi Germany at the end of the war. Alongside the smaller Type XXIII “Elektobote” and numerous “midgets” at a stage events verged on desperation, it was supposed to reverse their … Read more
Turkish Ottoman Cruiser Mecidiye Turkey – 1901-1952 (1903) A “Magnificient Century” in service of Turkey The Ottoman Navy Mecidiye (also spelled as Medjidiye, or Medjidie), was named after the Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid. She was a protected cruiser ordered as part of the 1900 large naval modernization program, and built in the US not after a … Read more
Supermarine Walrus (1936) RNAS/FAA 1936-44: 740 built. The common British WW2 spotter seaplane Supermarine Walrus I parked on catapults in HMS Exeter, 1930s Supermarine, headed by lead designer Reginald Joseph Mitchell which practically died at his desk on 11 June 1937 (aged 42), giving birth to the war-winning Spitfire to his beloved country, also spawn … Read more
USS Spuyten Duyvil (1864) Union Navy The first USN Torpedo Boat After suffering against Confederate use of the torpedo, the Union decided to create a ship using the same weapon. This resulted in the creation of a very original vessel, at first called the USS Stromboli, and soon renamed Spuyten Duyvil. It became in essence … Read more
Implacable class Aircraft Carriers United Kingdom: HMS Implacable, Indefatigable (1942) The Illustrious near sister ships The Implacable-class were two aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy in World War II, closely derived from the Illustrious class, but faster and with more aircraft onboard, while still keeping the benefit of being fully armored. They were initially … Read more
IJN Mikasa (1900) Japanese pre-dreadnought Battleship (1899-1923) The iconic ship of Japan If the huge scale model of Yamato still today draws crowds at the Kichigaisensei Yamato museum in Kure, the world’s only 1900 example of a pre-dreadnought is also an icon. The venerated IJN Mikasa (三笠), a national memorial and museum ship today, dedicated … Read more
