Russian Empire, 1902-1914. Protected Cruisers: Izumurud, Zhemchug Izumrud (“Emerald”) was a protected cruiser of the Imperial Russian Navy, Russian built like her sister ship Zhemchug, but derived from the German Schichau design “Novik”. Both were part of the expansion program of the Russian Pacific Fleet, to be based on the recently acquired Port Arthur after … Read more
Armada (1880-1905): Aragón, Navarra, Castilla The Aragon class were three unprotected wooden-built cruisers between 1869 and 1882 for the Spanish Navy and named after historical kingdoms or regions of Spain as they were initially designed as central battery ironclads but modified after constrtuction started, as unprotected masted cruisers, and later completely rearmed. Construction time thus … Read more
Destroyer built 1903-1907, service until 1918. Sir Jackie Fisher’s Uber Destroyer HMS Swift is very peculiar in the Royal Navy as the world’s largest destroyer of her time when launched in 1907. She was a pet project of Admiral “Jackie” Fisher which also pushed for submarines, and was the mastermind behind HMS Dreadnought and battlecruisers… … Read more
Central Citadel Ironclads built 1874-83: SMS Sachsen, Bayern, Würtemberg, Baden. Service until 1910-1920 The Sachsen class were called “armored corvettes”, but were four barbette central citadel ironclads, the first steam-only capital ships built by the Imperial German Navy in 1874-1883. Named Sachsen, Bayern, Württemberg, and Baden they were designed for a coastal defense network, from … Read more
Cruiser submarine (1925-1943) The unique V4, SM-1, SS-166 or USS Argonaut was an experimental US Navy cruiser submersible, and world’s largest until the French Surcouf, or the Japanese STO class in WW2. She was the very reason the cruiser submersible was not adopted, despite two smaller vessels, V5 and 6 being built afterwards. She would … Read more
United Kingdom (1942-44) HMS Bellona, Black Prince, Royalist, Spartan, Diadem The British AA cruisers, reloaded These ships were derived from the previous “Dido” but with revised AA artillery, superstructures and lower funnels to clear their firing range. They shared the same hull, facilities, and same turrets, albeit the “C” one (uppermost) was removed for a … Read more
Patrol Submersibles 1904-1906, service until 1918. B-1 to B-11, 11 completed total The B class submersibles were the follow-up of the “A” class directly derived from the first Holland boats built in Britain. These 11 submarines all built at Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness were launched in 1904–06. Apart one lost in a collision, and unlike previous A … Read more
Project 667B nuclear missile attack submarines Project 667B Murena: 18 ballistic submarines (Delta I). Project 667B Murena (NATO Delta I) were a class of nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) derived closely from the previous Project 667A (NATO Yankee) but featuring the the D-9 complex, larger missiles and only twelve instead of sixteen. These R-29 … Read more
Experimental Submarines 1953-1965 The two Explorer-class were experimental submarines ordered in 1947 for the Royal Navy as an early underwater test-bed for a new propulsion system using hydrogen peroxide (HTP) for greater underwater endurance and speed. The construction of the two Explorer-class combined steam turbines powered by the catalysed interaction of HTP and diesel oil. … Read more
Koninklijke Marine Frigates: Frigate 66 Programme, Built 1971-76. HNLMS Tromp (F801), De Ruyter (F806), in service 1976-2001 The Tromp class frigates built for the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1970s were originally a replacement for the two De Zeven Provinciën-class cruisers and intended also to act as squadron flagships. Sharing many aspects with the British Type … Read more
