admin7126 Germany: SM U57 to U-62, 99 to 104 (1916-17) The Mobilisation U57 class U-Boats were the first incursion by A.G. Weser, Bremen, into the usual realm of Germaniawerft and Kaiserliches Werft shipyards. The need for more U-Boote was pressing and to bolster the numbers, a series of twelve submersibles were ordered, based on the U41 … Read more
Royal Navy, Type 12M or Rothesay-class frigates: 12(21) ordered and completed (+ 2 RNZN, 3 SAFN), service 1960-1990: F101, 103, 106, 107, 108, 113, 115, 126, 129. The Rothesay or Type 12M frigates were a derivative of the 1950s Whitby class as 1st-rate ocean-going convoy escorts but there was so potential of the design it … Read more
Marine Nationale (1886-91), Protected cruisers. Troude, Lalande, Cosmao: Service until 1908-22 The Troude class were three light protected cruisers built in the 1880s for the Marine Nationale (French Navy), Troude, Lalande and Cosmao. All three from the same yard, F.C. de la Gironde at Bordeaux. Like the Forbin class built in parallel, they were ordered … Read more
United Kingdom (1891) HMS Edgar, Endmyon, Hawke, Gibraltar, Crescent, Royal Arthur, St Georges, Theseus, Grafton Among the oldest cruisers in British service Pre-1890s cruisers were often sail/steam thing intended to safeguard the immense colonial trade roads of the Empire. By 1890s the concept of protected cruiser was well accepted as more “military” ships compared to … Read more
Pakistani Navy Cruiser 1957-1985 The Ex-British BELLONA class cruiser Babur (بابر) had been originally launched at Hawthom Leslie on 29.2.56 as HMS Diadem. Before being sold to Pakistan and renamed (pennant C84), she had been refitted at HM Dockyard in Portsmouth. Her bridge was modified as well as her radar upgraded and lattice masts reinforced. … Read more
Regia Marina: 17 Built 1939-43: Alpino, Artigliere, Ascari, Aviere, Bersagliere, Camicia Nera, Artigliere, Carabiniere, Corazziere, Fuciliere, Geniere, Granatiere, Lanciere, Bombardiere, Carrista, Corsaro, Legionario, Mitragliere, Squadrista, Velite The Soldati class were also known as Camicia Nera class (“Blackshirt”) and there were the last and most numerous class of destroyers of the Regia Marina in World War … Read more
US Navy Escort Destroyers (1943-44): 252 TEV (Rudderow) planned, 22 completed (180 cancelled), 293 WGT planned, 83 completed (210 cancelled). Total 105. The TEV and WGT classes (better known as the Rudderow class from its lead vessel and John C. Butler for the WGT subclass) were a large series (252 and 293 planned, 22 and … Read more
North Korean Navy – Missile Frigates 1973-Today: Two ships, status unknown. The Najin class (NATO designation) are known by Western intel since 1971 when construction was spotted by satellite. They are among the most foggy North Korean Vessels while at the same time, the largest in the Korean Navy until the 5000t Choe Hyon-class destroyer … Read more
French Navy – Contre-Torpilleurs de 2500 tonnes. 6 built 1930-1934, in service until 1942: Le Fantasque, L’Audacieux, Le Malin, Le Terrible, Le Triomphant, Le Fier*. The Le Fantasque-class were a group of six large, very fast destroyers (officially classified as “contre-torpilleurs”) built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in the 1930s. These ships were among … Read more
Japanese Self Defence Naval Force – Guided Missile destroyer (1965-1995) DG 163 or JDS Amatsukaze, was the first Japanese missile destroyer. Due to her limited size, no Terrier or Talos systems were implemented, but rather the light Tartar, and later the Standard missile system (which derived from the Tartar). This was also later completed by … Read more
