United Kingdom (1916-22), 8 light cruisersHMS Danae, Dauntless, Dragon, Delhi, Dunedin, Durban, Despatch, Diomede. HMS DELHI in bulgaria, during the interwar The Danae class were the last large WW1 British light cruiser serie, also called “D” class to distinguish them from the “C class” they replaced, or the following “E” class which construction was only … Read more
Helicopter cruiser Vittorio Veneto (1967) In service 1969-2003 The last Italian helicopter missile cruiser Within the frame of NATO’s ASW policy, Italy developed and launched two helicopter cruisers armed with US Terrier missiles in the early 1960s, following the success of the conversion of the Giuseppe Garibaldi: The Andrea Doria class. They were found successful … Read more
Bundesmarine (1960), 3 ships: U-1 – U-3 The Bundesmarine’s first submarines The Type 201 were the first post-WW2 German submarines to see the day. They derived from a long process started with the reintegration of Germany into NATO and the idea that the Bundesmarine could need small submarines as a way to defend the eastern … Read more
Panzerkepp HSwMS Oscar II (1906) Swedish Navy – coastal battleship 1907-1974 HSwMS Oscar II was a coastal battleship (Panzerkepp) of the Swedish Navy built before WWI. She was larger, more powerful, and better protected than any other that came before, setting a new standard for Scandinavia. She had an important role during WWI by covering … Read more
Yokosuka B4Y “Jean” (1935) Imperial Japanese Navy, 205 built The Mitsubishi B2M which needed replacement (1932), derived from the Blackburn Ripon The Yokosuka B4Y, also called Navy Type 96 Carrier Attack Bomber was the specialized torpedo bomber of the IJN, and last biplane of that type before the arrival of the B5N “Kate”. Introduced in … Read more
Empire of Japan, 1920. Light Cruisers: IJN Nagara, Isuzu, Natori, Yura, Kinu, Abukuma The second “three piper” light cruiser serie The six Nagara-class light cruisers (長良型軽巡洋艦, Nagaragata keijun’yōkan) of the Imperial Japanese Navy were part of the massive 1919 naval plan. They followed the previous Kuma class, being almost repeats with little changes. They made … Read more
Peresvet, Pobeda, Oslyabya The Peresvet class were three pre-dreadnought battleships of the Imperial Russian Navy sent to reinforce newly acquired Port Arthur: The class comprised Peresvet, Pobeda and Oslyabya,all there quite distinctive with their tall, bulky hull, two-storey barbettes and three funnels. In the Pacific Squadron upon completion in 1901-1903 they fought at the Battles … Read more
US Navy Fighter Bomber (1940-76), 12,270 built Probably the most famous fighter ever designed for any Navy, arguably, was the Vought F4U Corsair. Not only for its production went further than the Hellcat, but it outlived all for a very long active service. The very last in action were 19 Honduran F4U in the 1969 … Read more
Armoured Cruiser Ryurik (1892) Imperial Russian Navy, 1890-1904 The Russian pacific cruisers In 1881, the 20-year shipbuilding program, notably for the creation of the Pacific cruiser fleet, went along with the creation of squadrons of seagoing battleships. In grand total, Russia wanted a fleet 30 cruisers strong, with twenty-one light ones, classed as corvettes, nine … Read more
United Kingdom (1890-1910): HMS Centurion, Barfleur, Renown. The British forgotten second rate battleships The Centurion-class battleships are now an example of the forgotten Anglo-Russian naval rivalry of the late XIXth century. These were a class of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy dating back from the early 1890s. Unusual, they were second-class battleships which service … Read more
