Ironclad Battleships (1879-1895): Ruggiero di Lauria, Francesco Morosini, Andrea Doria Italian Ironclad Battleships Caio Duilio class (1879) | Italia class (1881) | Ruggiero di Lauria class (1884) | Re Umberto class (1883) Development Portrait of the Sinking of Re d’Italia The Ghosts of Lissa Following the formal unification of Italy in 1870, many within the … Read more
Spanish Protected cruisers (1886-1895): Reina Regentes, Alfonso XIII, Lepanto 1891-1900 The Reina Regentes class cruisers were designed as an improvement of the Alfonso XII, with some protection (they were the second class of Spanish protected cruisers after the small Isla de luzon group). Instead of being designed and built in Spain, the Government sent a … Read more
Austro-Hungarian Navy central battery ironclad (1871-1892) We start a new cycle dedicated to the Austro-Hungarian Navy until 1900 (the topic of WWI was seen in detail), covering the present Lissa (1869), Custoza (1872), Erzherzog Albrecht (1872), but not SMS Kaiser (already seen). We will see also the Kaiser Max class (1875), SMS Tegetthoff (1878) and … Read more
The Netherlands, Coastal Battleship 1871-1897 HNLMS Koning der Nederlanden was an iron-hulled ironclad “ramtorenschip”, a turret ram ship built at Rijkswerf, Amsterdam in 1871-77. She was the largest ever of the Dutch Navy and remains so for that era, until the start of the century. She was a 5400t, 12 knots, Barque-rigged armoured ship protected … Read more
Protected Cruiser (1885) USS Chicago was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy and largest of the three cruisers authorized by the Congress as part of the “New Navy” and a steel ship. Launched on 5 December 1885 at the former John Roach, later Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works in Chester, … Read more
USA – Armoured Cruiser 1888-1898 The first Atlanta class cruisers (some says Boston class) were a pair of protected cruisers, and among the very first steel warships of the “New Navy” in the 1880s. They differed in some ways so other authors have them separated, but in truth they were very close sisters so we … Read more
USA – Armoured Cruiser 1888-1898 USS Maine was the first USN armoured cruiser made famous by the war she indirectly caused to break out in 1898 while expdoding in Havana Harbor on February 15. A well-organized and focused U.S. press campaign, through “yellow journalism” contributed to a situation that was already degraded bewteen the Spanish … Read more
Dansk marine – Ironclad (1868-1907) HDMS Lindormen was a Danish ironclad and monitor built for the Royal Danish Navy in the 1860s, scrapped in 1907. She was perfectly adapted to her role, succeeding to the 1863 Rolfe Krake built in UK, Napier. She was by the way not the very first Danish armoured ship, but … Read more
Armoured Cruiser HMS Shannon (1875) United Kingdom (1873-1899) The concept of the armoured cruiser had many origins and claiming nations. In the case of Russia, it is argued that the General Admiral class (1875) is a serious contenter. In fact exactly the same year, the British Royal Navy claimed their own: HMS Shannon. Started in … Read more
Russian Empire, Masted Cruiser 1879-1939 Pamiat Merkuria was the first “modern” iron hull unprotected masted Russian cruiser. She was made for the Black Sea Fleet and served under the name Yaroslav, then Pamiat Merkuria from 1883 shortly after completion. She was stricken in 1907 but her career did not stopped there, far from it. Design … Read more
