Nuclear Powered Attack Submarines: USS Skipjack, Scamp, Scorpion, Sculpin, Shark, Snook (SSN-585 to 592) 1956-1990 The Skipjack class (project SCB 154) were six Navy nuclear submarines entering service in 1959-60: Skipjack, Scamp, Scorpion, Sculpin, Shark, Snook, introducing the teardrop hull and new S5W reactor and really quickstarting the second generation of USN nuclear submarines. They … Read more
Regia Marina – Six destroyers: Indomito, Impavido, Impetusoso, Insidioso, Intrepido, Irrequieto 1911-1944 Indomito class Destroyers (1912): We start a deep dive into Regia Marina’s destroyers by the Indomito class. Not with the earlier Soldati class (1906), or Ascaro, because the six Indomito were of a new design with forecastle which was followed for all subsequent … Read more
Søværnet: Armoured Frigate (1848-1875) For this dive into two decades of Danish warships, we start with one of the most symbolic of its evolution and transformation to steam and armour: The Danish ironclad Dannebrog was an armored frigate originally built as a classic 80-gun ship-of-the-line, planned in 1845, built by Andreas Schifter in 1848. She … Read more
Japan (1892-1930) suma, Akashi The two Suma-class cruisers (Suma, Akashi) were protected cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) which took part in the boxer rebellion, Russo-japanese and the first world war. They were lightly armed and armored for the time, but this small size and simple design made faster their construction. They were also … Read more
Guided missile Frigates 1971-2013: FS Tourville, Duguay-Trouin, De Grasse D610-612 +2 more cancelled Called the F67 type, also known as the Tourville class, these ships were a class of three large high-sea (blue water) Frigates specialized in anti-submarine warfare, but keeping anti-air and anti-surface capabilities (ASUW). Large enough to be cruisers, like the previous Suffren … Read more
Conventional attack submarines: USS Barbel, Blueback, Bonefish (SS-580 to SS-582) 1956-1990 The Barbel-class submarines were the last diesel-electric propelled attack submarines for the United States Navy. They also incorporated a lot of innovations, starting with their teardrop hull derived from USS Albacore (AGSS-569), and combined a control room and attack center under the conning tower. … Read more
Fleet Aircraft Carrier (R09), 1943-1979 This was the last great, true fleet British aircraft carrier, and perhaps the best of them all before it was decided to retire her. The smaller HMS Hermes had a longer career, sure, but she was the only British carrier large enough to operate the capable, multirole F4 Phantom II. … Read more
USA – Armoured Cruiser 1888-1898 The first Atlanta class cruisers (some says Boston class) were a pair of protected cruisers, and among the very first steel warships of the “New Navy” in the 1880s. They differed in some ways so other authors have them separated, but in truth they were very close sisters so we … Read more
Swedish Navy – HSwMS Oden, Thor, Niord 1894-1937 The Oden class was a class of armored ships in the Swedish navy. The class consisted of three ships; Odin, Thor and Niord. Their main armament consisted of two 25.4 cm guns in two single turrets, one in the bow and one in the stern, and the … Read more
German observation Floatplane (1937), 541 produced 1939-44. The Arado 196 in brief The Arado Ar 196 was a German single-engine reconnaissance seaplane used during World War II. It was designed by Walter Blume and produced by the Arado Flugzeugwerke. The Ar 196 was primarily used by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) for maritime reconnaissance and observation … Read more
