USS Albacore (AGSS-569)

Research Conventional Submarine 1953-1972. The Teardrop Marvel USS Albacore (AGSS-569) is a single prototype submarine pioneering a home-grown version of the teardrop hull shape, really starting the modern submarine shape. This revolutionary design was derived from extensive hydrodynamic and wind tunnel testing in order to reach an unprecedented underwater speed and enhance agility. USS Albacore … Read more

Erzherzog Ferdinand Max class (1863)

Austrian Navy, 1862-1883: SMS Erzherzog Ferdinand Max, Habsburg The Erzherzog Ferdinand Max and Habsburg were built for the Austrian Navy in the 1860s as its last broadside armored frigates for the Austrian Empire, last completed to see action at the Battle of Lissa in 1866. Their intended breech-loading Krupp guns were not delivered in time … Read more

Virginia Class cruisers (1974)

USS Virginia, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas (1971) These four ships planned at first as fleet escorts (frigates) like the previous California class, were requalified “cruisers” in 1975 when entering service. USS Virginia (CGN-38), started in August 1972 was commissioned in 1976, and USS Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas (CGN 39-41), between 1977 and 1980. They were designed … Read more

River class destroyers (1903)

UK Royal Navy (1902-1921) E class: 34 ships. The 34 Royal Navy “river” class destroyers were the first built with a forecastle, on the same admiralty specifications issued to six yards previously involved in the 27 and 30 knotters. Despite the fact turbine destroyers were tested shortly before, only one on the whole had turbines … Read more

Kashin class destroyers (1964)

Kashin class destroyers (1964) Project 61: 20 Missile Destroyers: Komsomolets Ukrainy, Soobrazitelny, Provorny, Odaryonny, Obraztsovy, Otvazhny, Steregushchy, Krasny Kavkaz, Reshitelny, Strogy, Smetlivy, Krasny Krym, Sposobny, Skory, Ognevoy, Stroyny, Slavny, Smyshlyony, Smely (ORP Warszawa). Project 61M: Sderzhanny Project 61E (Rajput class): INS Rajput, Rana, Ranjit, Ranvir, Ranvijay. These were Soviet standard missile destroyers of the 1960s-1970s. … Read more

Gloster Sea Gladiator (1938)

RNAS/FAA 1938-40: 98 built. The Gloster Sea Gladiator was a naval variant of the Gloster Gladiator, a British biplane fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Sea Gladiator was specifically designed for operations on aircraft carriers. Origins: The … Read more

1934 Type Destroyers

Nazi Germany: Z1 Leberecht Maas, Z2 Georg Thiele, Z3 Max Schulz, Z4 Richard Beitzen (1934-1945) The 1934 Type destroyers (Zerstörer) were the first Kriegsmarine true fleet destroyers, illegal as per the Versailles Treaty when developed from 1932, and legalized (but by declaring fake tonnage) after the Anglo-German naval agreement of 1935… For this important new … Read more

Boyarin (1901)

Russian Empire, 1902-1904 Boyarin (“Nobleman”) was a protected cruiser of the Imperial Russian Navy. She was the only foreign built cruiser to be built at Burmeister & Wain in Copenhagen, Denmark in the rapid buildup preceding the Pacific. Varyag has been built also for the Russian Pacific Fleet, but in the US, Askold in Germany, … Read more

HNLMS Karel Doorman

Koninklijke Marine Aircraft Carrier 1948-1968 Dutch National Day ! HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81) was the only cold war Dutch aircraft carrier. She was a Colossus-class ship, part of the 1942 light fleet aircraft carrier programme as the former HMS Venerable. She was sold in 1948 to the Royal Netherlands Navy. Her partial modernization was later … Read more