admin7126 Regia Marina: 4 Built 1931-34: Maestrale, Grecale, Libeccio, Scirocco The Maestrale class followed the Freccia and Folgore as the third series of the new design inaugurated in 1930, with four relatively close vessels built for the Regia Marina. They formed the basis for next Oriani and Soldati classes, as incremental improvements achieved the best design … Read more
IJN 1st class Destroyer built 1942-44 IJN Shimakaze (島風, “Island Wind”) was an experimental destroyer intended as the “Type C” of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the lead ship in a projected class of “super destroyer”, complementary to the “Type B” that were the AA destroyers of the Akizuki class. She was superlative, the … Read more
Kriegsmarine (1936), 24 submarines The Type VIIA as a sort of “pre-serie” for an experimental mid-sized oceanic submersible in the interwar was in everything a success. Apart for one aspect. It was soon clear its only real drawback was its fuel oil storage for its role and expected patrol areas. That’s what engineered solved by … Read more
French Navy – Contre-Torpilleurs de 2400 tonnes. 6 built 1927-1930, in service until 1942: . The Aigle-class destroyers (“contre-torpilleurs”) were built for the French navy in 1931-34. Very similar to the previous Guepard class, they still had an improved machinery with higher pressure boilers for an extra 0.5 knots (0.93 km/h; 0.58 mph) in top … Read more
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force: ASW destroyer (1958-88): JDS Murasame, Yudachi, Harusame The Murasame (there was a class of the same name in the 1990s) were the successor to the Ayanami-class destroyers. They were less specialized in anti-submarine warfare, but more A/AS because of their heavy artillery, and thus they were the first classified unofficially as … Read more
RNAS/FAA (1915) 386 made. Used until 1931 The Sopwith Baby was an observation seaplane developed from the Sopwith Schneider, the latter derived from a 1913 sports seaplane. The latter also had a land-based equivalent, the Tabloid. This was the first major success of Sopwith. The Baby had a better engine, a single seat, and was … Read more
Colombian Navy Destroyers (1958-1985) Colombia Day ! Probably the most specific and famous ships of the Colombian Navy in the Cold War: Ordered in 1954 these modified Swedish Halland class destroyers mounted a different armament, more electronics, different interior arrangement, and were built on purpose at Gotawerken and cockums from 1955 to 1958. ARC 7 … Read more
US Navy 1946-55 USS Juneau (ii) CL-119, Spokane CL-120, Fresno CL-121 The topic of last US conventional cruisers is a bit forgotten today, as they were designed during WW2 to improve existing ships ended as subclasses commissioned postwar, missing WW2 entirely yet having a relatively active career still, taking part in the Korean, and for … Read more
France. Barbette Ironclad Amiral Duperre. Built 1877-82, service until 1905 After the first steel-built ironclads, the Devastation class, which were still central battery ironclads, the Marine Nationale returned to the “near-turret” concept after the Ocean class with a central battery sporting four upper heavy guns in open barbettes. But she was specifically designed as a … Read more
Imperial Qing Navy – Steam Frigates Hai’an (海安) or known at the time the Zhen’an (镇安 or Chen-an) class of wooden steam powered frigates built for the Imperial Chinese Navy are forgotten today in the shadow of the immense PLAN, but the pair (with her sister Yuyuen) remained the largest and most powerful warships of … Read more
