Imperial Japanese Navy 1937-45. IJN Otori, Hiyodori, Hayabusa, Kasasagi, Kiji, Kari, Sagi, Hato + 8 more cancelled. The Otori-class torpedo boat (鴻型水雷艇, Ōtori-gata suiraitei) were a second class of Imperial Japanese Navy torpedo boats built in the late interwar after the Chidori class, and improved. Their design was indeed a reaction to the Chidori class, … Read more
Union Navy Sea-Going Monitor (1864-1877) The USS Dictator was the largest Civil War Monitor ever built. A seagoing project from Ericsson, to face confederate inronclads being built in Europe. Originally named Protector she was Built by Delamater Iron works NYc in 1862-64 and entered the North Atlantic Blockading Sqn. Postwar until 1877, the North Atlantic … Read more
Germany: Oceanic submersibles: SM U81 to U-86 1916-20. The U81 class were a mid-war “medium oceanic” or Germaniawerft “Ms” type displacing 800 tonnes, having slightly better speed and range that former models, excellent accomodations, four torpedo tubes and twelve torpedoes in store and for the first time a 105 mm deck gun from the start. … Read more
Koninklijke Marine: HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck, Witte de With 1986-2005. To Chile, active until 2019. HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck (F 812) of NY city. The Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy were designed as an Air Defence version of the Kortenaer class, with their helicopter replaced by a Standard medium range SAM … Read more
USA: 96 Patrol Frigates. Built 1942-44 to US, UK, USSR service. The Tacoma class were 96 frigates designed and built for the United States Navy in World War II, also used by the British (Colony class) and Soviet Navy under lend-lease, the storozhevoi korabl (“escort ships”). They also saw action in and the Korean War … Read more
USN (1921-27) Torpedo Floatplane: 3 Prototypes. Tye Fokker T.II was a Dutch early prototype of torpedo carrying floatplane. It was designed from the paper-only T.I for European navies in 1920, and was ready in 1921, to compete in a USN open contest for its first dedicated torpedo-bomber. In all, only three T.II were made, tested … Read more
France. Central Battery Ironclads Built 1875-86, service until 1909. The Dévastation class Ironclad (with the accent, not to confound with the Royal Navy steam-only breastwork monitors of the same name built earlier from 1869), and sometimes class “Courbet class” were laid down as part of the 1872 programme and a development of the 1876 ironclad … Read more
Boadicea, Bellona (1910-22) The Boadicea-class cruisers were two scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy, most importantly, the first fitted with steam turbines. They were a departure from the Adventure style VTE-powered scouts and inaugurated a short run of turbine-powered scout cruisers. Completed in 1909–10, they served as flotilla leaders for the First Fleet until … Read more
USA (1898-1902): USS Truxtun, Whipple, Worden DD14-16 more DDs The Truxtun-class destroyers were authorized by the Congress in their 4 May 1899 resolution after the Spanish–American War, FY1899 program. Built between 1899 and 1902, they represented only three ships, denominated DD-14 to DD-16 when laid down in 1899, and the second class of USN destroyers. … Read more
Australian Navy (1928-55): HMAS Australia, Canberra. The Australia class were the only heavy cruisers in Australian History. Both were replacement for much older light cruisers. They were ordered in 1924, based on the Kent class (first of the County class). HMAS Australia and Canberra were probably among the most battle hardened Royal Australian Navy (RAN) … Read more
