admin7126 Escort Aircraft Carrier (Launched 1934 as SS Scharnhorst, converted 1942) Shin’yō (“Divine Hawk”) was an escort carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). She had been originally converted from the German ocean liner Scharnhorst (launched 1934) trapped in Kure when war broke out in 1939. The captain knew that any attempt to return to Germany … Read more
Oceanic Submersibles (1930-48): Fratelli Bandiera, Luciano Manara, Ciro Menotti, Santorre Santarosa The Bandiera-class submarines were four light oceanic submersibles built for the Regia Marina in 1928-1930 as improved, enlarged version of the Pisani class by Bernardis. Two were built at Cantiere Navale Triestino, Trieste and two at Odero-Terni-Orlando, Muggiano. They played a minor role in … Read more
Nazi Germany: 1936A and 1936A mob: Z23-Z39 (Built 1938-1943) The Type 1936B destroyers (Z35 class) were the last Kriegsmarine wartime destroyers. They were laid down between June 1941 and September 1943 and due to the wartime difficulties encountered by the conderned yards (Deschimag in Bremen and Germaniawerft in Kiel) only three ships out of the … Read more
Nuclear-powered attack submarines (1960-69), service 1976-today: 31 × Flight I, 8 × Flight II with VLS, 23 × Flight III 688i (Improved) SSN-688 to 773: 62 total) The Los Angeles class were 62 nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSN), of which 24 are still currently in service with the US Navy. Called colloquially the “688” class … Read more
Sjøforsvaret, Coast Defence Ships (1900): HNoMS Norge, HNoMS Eidsvold The Eidsvold class were two coastal defence ships built for the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1899 by Armstrong Whitworth, launched in 1900 and completed in 1901. HNoMS Eidsvold and HNoMS Norge were referred locally as “panserskip” (“armoured ship”), and in some publications called “coastal batteships”. Coastal … Read more
France. Armored Cruiser built 1904-1908, service until 1937. Jules Michelet was an evoliution of the previous Leon Gambetta armoured cruiser design, fitted with better boilers for more power, extra speed, and more modern marks of guns and revised armament in general. Jules Michelet had a relatively long career. Completed at Lorient Arsenal on the west … Read more
Dornier Do J. “Wal” c250 produced. The Dornier Do J. “Wal” was probably the most famous flying boat of the German company by Claude Dornier, also father of the 1929 mighty Do.X and its 12 engines. The Do J. “wal” (whale) was an impressive all-metal model that was pioneered back in 1923 when introduced as … Read more
Ottoman Navy: French built Ironclad (1867-1870) Asar-ı Tevfik (Ottoman Turkish: آثار توفیق, loosely Meaning: “God’s Favor”, was an Ottoman Navy Ironclad built in the 1860s, only member of her class. Originally she was ordered by the Khedivate of Egypt as ‘Ibrahimiye’, and later acquired by the Ottomans. She was built as part of an expansion … Read more
Nuclear Attack Submarines built 1968-1971 HMS Valiant (S102), Warspite (S103), Churchill (S46), Conqueror (S48), Courageous (S50) in service until 1990-96 The Swiftsure class were six nuclear-powered fleet submarines, next-gen built in the 1970s and in service until 2010. They were all built at VSEL Barrow (Vickers) for the Royal Navy from 1969 when Swiftsure was … Read more
Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (1962-66), service 1965-1999: (SSBN-616-659). The Benjamin Franklin is considered a sub-class of the larger Lafayette class, an evolution of the previous Ethan Allen class, based on the Goerges Washington class made as a stretched and modified version of the Skipjack class SSNs. With the sub-class James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin made … Read more
