Derfflinger class battlecruisers German Empire (1913-14) Battlecruisers S.M.S. Derfflinger, Lützow, Hindenburg The last German Battlecruisers, Derfflinger, Lützow and eventually Hindenburg, were all operational during WWI. They were the pinnacle of this development in continental Europe, innovating in two ways: 30 cm main guns all in centerline turrets, and a flush-deck hull, among others. As the … Read more
Erzherzog Friedrich class Steam Frigates Austrian Steam Corvettes (1857) Design of the Erzherzog Friedrich Class The construction of these wooden corvettes, SMS Erzherzog Friedrich and her sister ships, was ordered in Venice Arsenal, during the “Italian phase” of the future Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy. They were designed by the Inspector of Naval Construction Axel Ljungstedt. SMS … Read more
USN WW2 carrier-borne fighter Main USN fighter 1941-43: 7,885 built 1940-1945 The frontline USN fighter until 1943 The Wildcat had the difficult task of carrying out the defense of the last USN assets in the Pacific after Pearl Harbor. But also to defend British aircraft carriers, for long deprived of a satisfying naval fighter. It … Read more
USA (1931-32) USS Portland, Indianapolis. The Portland class: The 2nd generation. Designed after the Northamptons, the two heavy cruisers Portland and Indianapolis were contemporary of the New Orleans class which still looked like the Northamptons. But in reality they improved on many points and especially that of protection, so much so that they are considered … Read more
Äran class coastal Panzerkepp “battleships” (1901) Swedish Navy: HSwMS Äran, Wasa, Tapperheten, Manligheten 1901-1950 This class comprised the HSwMS Äran, Wasa, Tapperheten and Manligheten, which made the bulk of swedish coastal defensive screen in 1914. The second (HSwMS Vasa) was a famous name, recalling the rank of Sweden in international affairs in the XVIIth century. … Read more
SMS Seydlitz, Battlecruisers German Empire (1912) Battlecruiser The “shell magnet” Derived from battlecruisers of the Moltke class, Seydlitz differed in many respects, with a three-stepped revised hull but same artillery arrangement and revised protection compared to the Moltke class, traduced in three thousand tons more in displacement. Still, she was more powerful and faster. Probably … Read more
Japan, 1938-42. Fleet Aircraft Carrier Soryū’s near sister ship IJN Hiryū was the second purpose-built medium fleet aircraft carrier, and near-sister ship of IJN Soryū, the “blue dragon”. She shared most caracteristics, powerplant, armament, armor scheme, general layout, but with significant changes as well, like the island’s position, higher freeboard, better protection and other improvements. … Read more
Armoured Cruiser Rurik (1906) Russian Empire The world’s largest cruiser in 1907. Rurik represented the pride of the Russian navy in 1914, before were introduced the first dreadnoughts. Her presence in the Baltic overshadowing the still vivid memory of the crushing defeat and humiliation of 1905. In fact, when she was laid down in August … Read more
Imperial Japanese Navy, 148 built The 1930s IJN naval fighter The Nakajima A4N was a carrier-based fighter, last biplane by Nakajima. The first prototype was completed in 1934, but engine issues delayed the entry service until 1936. It was internally called Nakajima YM (factory designation), or Navy Type 95 Carrier Fighter. In all, 221 were … Read more
Fairey IIIF (1927) RNAS/FAA 1917-42: 964 built all types combined. The Fairey III: A two world wars veteran The biplane formula seemed to the interwar engineers the only one really fitting aeronautics at large, for all its advantages. So much so that some in 1938 still believed the monoplanes were a mere “fad” and everybody … Read more
