HMS Hood

United Kingdom (1920) – Battlecruiser The “Mighty Hood”, the symbol The HMS Hood is exceptional in more ways than one: She was the last battlecruiser, launched way after the Japanese Kongo class ships. She was the most powerful warship afloat during the interwar. She was above all the proud steel ambassador of the whole Royal … Read more

Java class cruisers (1921)

Java class cruisers (1921) The Netherlands – 1921 The battling Dutch cruisers The three cruisers of the Java class were started in 1916-17 to replace older units in the Dutch Navy squadron. The class counted the HLMNS Java, Sumatra and Celebes, but construction of the third was delayed and finally was abandoned in 1919, resources … Read more

Yavuz (1914)

Yavuz (1914) Germany/Turkey – 1911 (1914) An unexpected Turkish flagship – The Yavuz Sultan Selim, aka “Yavuz” became in August 1914 the new flagship of the Turkish Ottoman Navy, until then a motley collection of inoffensive museum pieces with a few modern vessels. Basically the German African squadron, based in Dar-es-Salaam, took refuge in Constantinople, … Read more

Satsuma class Battleships (1906)

Japan (1906) Satsuma, Aki The original half-dreadnoughts: The 薩摩型戦艦 Satsuma-gata senkan class was ordered in late 1904, under the War Naval Supplementary Program established during the Russo-Japanese War. It could have been a simple follow-up of previous battleships, but in reality the Satsuma were a clear departure from the Katori-class pre-dreadnoughts. They were the first … Read more

Kilkis class Battleships

USA/Greece – (1906) Kilkis, Lemnos The first Hellenic battleships – Before the Kilkis class, there was the Mississippi class. They were the last American pre-dreadnoughts, considered at the time somewhat hybrid ships, not monocaliber but with a powerful secondary artillery, and yet still slow pre-dreadnoughts. The Mississippi and Idaho had already a career in the … Read more

WW2 Spanish Submarines

Spanish Armada – 17 submersibles (1865-1945) Iberian pioneers of Submersibles The submarine has many fathers. Among the pioneering nations, Spain has been at the forefront of early submarine development. Narcis Monturiol was the inventor of no less than the first fully functional engine-driven submarine. The Ictineo I and II however appeared at a time the … Read more

Naval Technology

Naval Technology – Every field. ⚙ From the origins to these days: Naval Technology About a definition of naval technology All good university-like expose starts with a definition: Naval Technology could be summarized as all ways devised to allow mankind seafaring. It’s quite ambitious in its scope and we can only guess the subject would … Read more

Florida class battleships (1910)

USA (1910) Florida, Utah The third American dreadnoughts: The USS Florida and Utah, very close to the Delaware, were distinguished by their turrets disposition aft. They were also slightly better protected. during the crisis of Vera Cruz in 1914 they landed marines and in 1917-18 they patrolled the North Atlantic, operating from Ireland. As a … Read more

WW1 British Destroyers

WW1 British Destroyers Royal Navy (1895-1919) – About 536 ships WW1 British Destroyers: 26 knotters | 27 knotters | 30 knotters | 33 knotters | Turbine destroyers | River class | Cricket class | Tribal class | Beagle class | Acorn class | Acheron class Acasta class | L class | M class | Repeat … Read more