Project 613 (NATO “Whiskey”) conventional attack submarines 215 submarines (340 initially) 1951-58 After seeing the GUPPY, K (Barracuda) and Tang class, first generation conventional (postwar) USN attack submarines, it was logical to see what was their greater concern: The Soviet Navy’s fleet of attack submarines directly based on the German WW2 Type XXI. Known in … Read more
US Navy Project SCB 172. 1962-80: USS Albany, Chicago, Columbus (CG-10, 11, 12). The “Tall Ladies” Last US cruiser missile conversions The Boston class (1952) were the first missile cruisers conversions of the USN, an interim measure before tailored cruisers were built, like the USS Long Beach (nuclear powered) and the smaller conventional Leahy class. … Read more
German Empire (1896) Victoria Luise, Freya, Vineta, Herta, Hansa The first Class of German Protected cruisers: The second class of proper German “Kreuzer” appeared after SMS Kaiserin Augusta, later used as a training ship. These were more compact and more agile than the latter but heavier, rolling and rocking more while specs varied among shipyards. … Read more
Spanish Aircraft Carrier (1967-1989) The Dédalo (1967) was Spain’s second aircraft carrier, after her namesake (1922-1947) being more a seaplane and balloon carrier. An ex-Independence class fast carrier, USS Cabot, exhumed to the mothballs and offered to Spain in 1967, at first on loan and later completely modernized and equipped with the AV-8S Matador, sold … Read more
US Navy 174 Fleet Destroyers (1942-44) (no list submitted). The Fletchers are probably the best-remembered destroyers of the USN during the second world war. Not only by numbers as they embodied the United States’s industrial might in wartime but also because they arrived soon enough to make a difference in the Pacific, with significant combat … Read more
Aéronautique Navale: 125 built total 1934-1941 The Main French Catapulted Observation Floatplane The Loire 130 came from a request in 1933 from the French Navy for a reconnaissance seaplane that could also be used aboard French battleships and cruisers. Chosen in 1936 against five competitors, the Loire 130’s performance was considered good and production orders … Read more
US Navy Attack Submarines (SSK) 1949-1984 The Tang class submarines were the first generation postwar diesel attack submarines. Unlike the K class which were prototypes for a wartime simplified "ambush submarines", the Tang class were fully-grown attack submarines integrating as many lessons from the U Boat Type XXI as possible. They were the cradle of … Read more
Kriegsmarine Kreuzer 17* cruisers between the Reichsmarine and 1945 Germany Day ! The development of ww2 german cruisers started in interwar Germany, restarted in 1933 but cut short by the war, with plan Z postponed and cancelled later. It left the Kriegsmarine with just ten light cruisers and three heavy cruisers just completed, the remainder … Read more
United Kingdom: 4 aircraft carriers: HMS Albion, Centaur, Bulwark, Hermes, 4 more cancelled The first postwar British aircraft carriers First British cold war carriers, last started in WW2, the Centaur class were part of the 1942 Light Fleet Carrier program, later modified to include eight “intermediary fleet carriers” in 1943: HMS Albion, Centaur, Bulwark, HMS … Read more
Project 56, 56A, 56M (1958-1988) 27 conventional, ASW and missile destroyers The Kotlin (project 56) are the first “true” post-war soviet navy destroyers, if we consider the Skoriy a continuation of the prewar Ognevoi design. The Kotlin derived from Neutrashimyy (or Tallinn, project 41-1951) with an improved flush-deck hull, born from a 1951 specification based … Read more
