An intro to naval history Prehistoric boats, dugout, canoe rafts, reed boats, skin boats. The Polynesians pioneers From skinboats to …flying ships From prehistoric times, when probably someone falling into a torrent hang on a trunk and discover a much faster way to travel, or later go fishing on improvised rafts, man used the sea … Read more
United Kingdom vs. Germany First naval action of the war The very first action of the great war occurred on seas: The Staff of the Hochseeflotte had developed a comprehensive plan for years to come in the event of a war with Britain. It was firstly to undermine British ports and disrupt coastal shipping and … Read more
RN (1911): Active, Amphion, Fearless The last prewar scout cruisers: The Active class were three ships closely derived from previous Blonde/Boadicea scout cruisers. This third group only counted HMS Amphion and HMS Active, as HMS Fearless was built on similar plans a few months later. These three units were operational in 1913. With a few … Read more
Nassau class battleships (1908) SMS Nassau, Rheinland, Posen, Westfalen Germany’s first dreadnoughts The four Nassau (Nassau, Westfalen, Rheinland, Posen) were the first monocaliber battleships of the German Navy. They were not however ordered or designed in response to the HMS Dreadnought as often assumed but predated her in the Admiralstab. Another confirmation the monocaliber type … Read more
United Kingdom vs. Germany Prelude and context Since the starting of hostilities, both fleets had been wisely kept out of harm in their respective bases, Scapa Flow for the Grand Fleet and Kiel for the Hochseeflotte. Perhaps by excessive prudence, the only ships engaged were most of the time cruisers and battle cruisers, the fasters … Read more
Lion class Battlecruisers (1910) HMS Lion, Princess Royal, Queen Mary Beatty’s “splendid cats” at Jutland were a source of pride in 1914… but a source of embarrassment in June 1916. The fatidic day of the battle the admiral said famously “what is wrong with our b… ships today ?” after seeing Queen Mary blowing out. … Read more
RN (1907) Battlecruisers: HMS Invincible, Indomitable, Inflexible The Invincible class were the world’s first battlecruisers. A rare breed, since it was only tried by four nations, UK, Germany, Japan and the US (attempted, the converted to CVs). The way that lead to them was as fascinating as for the Dreadnought, and also entirely due to … Read more
Germany (1906) Battleships Deutschland, Hannover, Pommern, Schleisen, Schleswig-Holstein The five battleships of the Deutschland class were the last pre-dreadnoughts built in Germany. Ordered in 1903-1905 just as HMS Dreadnought was under construction, they were completed and accepted into service in 1906-1908 and virtually obsolete by 1914. Tirpitz eluded these criticisms by arguing that future dreadnoughts … Read more
13 RN Destroyers (1914): HMS Matchless, Murray, Myngs, Milne, Moorsom, Morris, Mansfield*, Mento*, Mastiff**, Meteor**, Miranda***, Minos***, Manly***. The Admiralty M were the first British (and world’s) mass-built destroyer class ever. They were an improvement of the L (Laforey) class but at the insistance of Winston Churchill, first lord of the admiralty, they were planned … Read more
United Kingdom (1906) HMS Colossus, HMS Hercules The Colossus-class battleships were 1st generation dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy built at Palmers and Scott shipyard in 1909-1911. They were also the last with 12-inch gun for the RN, but with a different configuration of turrets mounted amidship en echelon. They spent time at the Home … Read more
