There is an aspect of the French Campaign of 1940 which often overlooked: Despite the bulk of the action occured between the Germans on one side, in the north, and the French, BEF, and Belgians on the other, Mussolini declared war on France and Britain in june, 10, expecting to gain quick territorial advantages as … Read more
Poltava class Battleships (1894) Russia (1894) Petropavovsk, Sevastopol, Poltava Before the Petropavlovsk class dreadnoughts, Russia built locally a class of pre-dreadnought battleships already called by that name, but which did not existed anymore after 1905. Only Tchesma (ex-Poltava, ex-Tango) was in service in WW1, after being recovered. In fact all three were victims of the … Read more
Seeteufel (1944) Germany (1944) Genesis of a tracked submarine The Seeteufel “Monkfish” was an evolution of the concept of human torpedoes and midget submarines that could be thrown out on the coastal areas when U-boats failed to achieve their objectives and survive to the allied total mastery of the skies and sea at that point. … Read more
United Kingdom (1899-1906), 10 armoured cruisers: Monmouth, Bedford, Essex, Kent, Berwick, Cornwall, Cumberland, Donegal, Lancaster, Suffolk. The other County Class These armoured cruisers bearing County names answered to the concern of well-armed and well-protected but cheaper ships, especially compared to previous Drake. The concern was to produce a series of armoured cruisers for half the … Read more
Confederate Navy CSS Fredericksburg Born in Richmond The CSS Fredericksburg was born in Richmond, between 1862 and 1863, and was the second Ironclad laid up in this town for the Confederate states navy. It was launched in mid-1963, and declared completed and ready for service in November, 30, 1863. However, it was unarmed at that … Read more
Shikishima class battleships (1898) Japan (1898) – Shikishima, Hatsuse The Fuji improved: The Shikishima and Hatsuse were built in two British shipyards on plans derived from the Majestic. They were more heavy versions of the previous Fuji and differed externally by their three funnels. The subsequent Asahi and Mikasa derived from it so closely that … Read more
Union Navy USS Unadilla, lead ship of the ’90 days’ schooners The “90 days schooners”. Soon, during civil war, the best Union naval policy chosen was to blockade the entire condeferate coastline by all means necessary, notably to halt confederate trading, make an efficient embargo on weapons and ships, and prevent any intervention by European … Read more
SMS Sankt Georg (1903) Austro-Hungarian armoured cruiser The last Austrian armoured cruiser: After the Kaiser Karl IV’s departure, the admiralty impressed by the new cruiser immediately ordered an improved replica at the STT yard in Trieste. SMS Sankt Georg (Saint George) was, therefore, the closely derived and retained a generally similar appearance, but the differences … Read more
WW1 French Destroyers France (1899-1918), about 90 destroyers Foreworld After having turned hundreds of torpedo boats in two decades under the influence of the “Young School”, France started creating destroyers in 1900, at first 300 tons, short range ships, but soon from 1908, 500+ tons, and eventually 800 tons ships in 1911, true fleet destroyers … Read more
Gangut Class Battleships Russia (1911) – Petropavovsk, Sevastopol, Poltava A long Development These ships were the first Russian Dreadnoughts. They were ordered by Tsar Nicholas II in person, and this despite a very agitated Duma (the revolt of 1905 was still fresh and these new ships were considered as a new expensive madness). The navy … Read more
