The Trafalgar of ironclads 1860 Regia Marina vs 1860s KuK Kriegsmarine While on the other side of the Atlantic, a young nation still constructing was reeling from its worst, first, and last civil war, innovating and experimenting in naval matters along the way, new nations of turbulent Europe were struggling for independence. A particular ship … Read more
Battle of Tsushima 1905 Russki flot vs Nihhon Kaigun The great seism in naval matters The battle of Tsushima is certainly one of the most significant battles of the XXth Century. In terms of size and scope, it was only comparable to Jutland, in May 1916, and the British compared it to Trafalgar. Its consequences, … Read more
Japan (1855-1877) 35+ ships Definition: The arrival of Perry’s ships in 1853 quickstarted a serie of events called the “Bakumatesu” era, literraly “the end” of Japanese isolation on the International scene. This also comprised the Boshin war. The “Meiji era” is the little-known early era for the fledging Imperial Japanese Navy. Yards were being constructed, … Read more
1853-1856 The Crimean War: Generalities The largest war of the 1850s The Crimean War (1853–1856) was a major conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, Britain, and Sardinia. It was primarily sparked by disputes over Christian holy sites in the Ottoman-controlled Holy Land and the declining power of … Read more
Spanish Armada vs US Navy Cuba’s decisive naval battle The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, was seen by some as a naval “execution squad”, as US ships (with large firepower superiority) just awaited the Spanish squadron to leave and force its way out of Santiago’s bay. Some duelling occurred nevertheless, but the fate of the … Read more
Spanish Armada vs US Navy Map of Manila’s battle actions (public domain) Swapping an Empire for Another The origins The war of 1898 which emerged from the question of the independence of Cuba from Spanish so-perceived tyrannic colonial rule, was resolved rapidly through two naval battles. Strangely the first one did not occurred in the … Read more
Japanese vs Chinese Navy, 17 September 1894 The first major naval battle of the industrial era Less well known than Tsushima, the battle of Yalu River is nevertheless one of the few naval battles that occurred at the end of the Century, with relatively modern ships. Other contemporary examples had been the battle of Cuba, … Read more
