admin7126 Germany: SM U5, U6, U7, U8 (1910-1915) Development The short-lived U5 class was a simple evolution of the U3 class (two boats launched in 1909). They were conceived as a general improvement, built by Germaniawerft in 1908-1910, unlike the U3, from Danzig NyD. They passed the cape of 500t surfaced, had four instead of two … Read more
US Navy Fighter, 27 USN, +3 protos +129 exports The Curtiss F11C Goshawk is now a somewhat forgotten USN naval biplane fighter of limited production (28 for the BFC-2). Declined into the C2 with landing undercarriage and a sole prototype with Grumman’s retractable undercarriage (C3), it only saw service for a time on USS Saratoga … Read more
Dansk marine – Ironclad (1871-1912) The Danish ironclad Gorm (“Gorm the old”) was a monitor ironclad (panserskib) built for the Royal Danish Navy, and follow-up of HDMS Lindormen. She was built in Copenhagen in 1867-1870, named after the first historically recognized King of Denmark. She was active in annual squadrons until 1898, was modernized in … Read more
Regia Marina -4 destroyers: Cesare Battisti, Daniele Manin, Francesco Nullo, Nazario Sauro. Built 1925-1927, interwar, ww2, 4 lost. The Sauro class were an improved follow-up of the Sella class, which themselves improved on the early 1920s Palestro class destroyers. They were beamier, longer with the biggest change being their two twin main artillery mounts and … Read more
DDEs before 1955: Audaz, Osado, Meteoro, Furor, Rayo, Ariete, Temerario, Intrépido, Relámpago (1953-1982) The Audaz class had a rather unique story. Built by Bazán for the Spanish Navy they were initially a Spanish version of the French interwar “Le Fier” class torpedo boats. But during their long construction and through redesigns and operational life they … Read more
IJN “special type” Destroyers built 1931-35: Hatsuharu, Nenohi, Wakaba, Hatsushimo, Ariake, Yūgure The Hatsuharu-class destroyers (Hatsuharugata kuchikukan) were the next “special type” Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers in service in the interwar. The final two were heavily modified and considered separate as the Ariake class by some authors. In short, the Hatsurahu were built in answer … Read more
French Navy – Standard 1500t destroyers, 14 built 1925-1931, in service until 1952: Bourrasque, Cyclone, Mistral, Orage, Ouragan, Simoun, Sirocco, Tempête, Tornade, Tramontane, Trombe, Typhon New cycle: French Destroyers. Part I: The interwar classes, from Chacal to Le Hardi. Part II (2026): WWI French destroyers. The Bourrasque class is a series of twelve torpedo boats … Read more
United Kingdom – (1943-45): 110 planned, 28 completed, 26 to Bay class, 54 cancelled. The Loch class were anti-submarine warfare frigates built for the Royal Navy and Allies in wartime, an innovative take on the preceding, and very similar River class Frigates, but incorporating three years of experience in the Battle of the Atlantic. However … Read more
Hanriot HD.2 (1917) Naval Fighter, Marine Nationale/USN The Hanriot HD.2 was a French biplane floatplane fighter, a derivative of the Hanriot HD.1 in the late First World War that. Initially it was developed for testing the use of aircraft from warships. The idea of an on-board interceptor to deal with enemy aircraft and point defence … Read more
US Navy Submersibles, USS Mackerel, Marlin SS-198-211 (1939-48) The Mackerel-class submarines were two prototype submarines laid down before the war and launched in 1940-1941 on roughly similar designs. They were completely different from the US submarine trend and much smaller in size, envisioned as successors to the S-class submarines of late World War I. They … Read more
