Posted in ww1 Russian Navy

WW1 Russian minesweepers

WW1 Soviet Minesweepers, and Minelayers Russian Navy – 900+ minesweepers 1914-19 Introduction: Soviet Mine warfare WWI About early Russian naval…

Posted in ww2 Finnish Navy

Vainamoinen class coastal battleships (1931)

Finnish Navy – Merivoimat 2 Coastal Battleships (1929-1945) Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen were both built at the Crichton-Vulcan shipyard…

Posted in Coldwar Soviet Ships

Krivak class frigates (1970)

Project 1135 Burevestnik (Bditelnyy class) ASW Frigates 33 ASW Frigates, NATO Krivak I, II, III and IV, 1975-1990 Bditelnyy, Bodryy,…

Posted in cold war French ships

La Galissonnière (1960)

French Navy (1962-95), T56 design, D638 The T53 (Duperré) class destroyers succeeded to the the T47 or (Surcouf class), five…

Posted in ww2 US Carriers ww2 US Navy

Saipan class Light Aircraft Carriers

USA (1945) USS Saipan (CVL-48), Wright (CVL-49) – service 1947-1980 Light Carriers based on heavy cruisers Two light carriers, Saipan…

Posted in 1870 Italian Fleet

Principe di Carignano class ironclads (1861)

Italian Regia Marina, 1861-1879: Principe di Carignano, Messina, Conte Verde The Principe di Carignano class were three sister ironclad of…

Posted in WW2 Japanese Navy

Japanese Amphibious Ships

IJA/IJN Amphibious Ships, landing crafts and Landing Forces About 3000+ landing ships, crafts, assault vessels, transport subs and auxiliary carriers…

Posted in Coldwar Soviet Ships

Kirov class Battlecruisers (1977)

Project 1144 Orlan; 4 ships built: Kirov (1980), Frunze (1984), Kalinin (1988), Yuri Andropov (1988), Dzerzhinsky (cancelled). 1992: Admiral Ushakov,…

Posted in cold war us navy

Iowa class (Cold War)

Battleships (1942-44): USS Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, Wisconsin The only cold war battleships in activity This post must be seen…

Posted in British Fleet Air Arm

Supermarine Seafire (1942)

Supermarine Seafire (1942-50) Fleet Air Arm. Mk.I to Mk.47 (2,646 built) The Supermarine Seafire is the naval version of the…

Naval Encyclopedia

Naval Encyclopedia provides a one-stop place for everything related to naval warfare through ships classes, going back to antiquity to the present day, with particular focus on WW1, WW2 and the cold war, with daily articles and weekly fleets. This is a long endeavour, with future entries in opacity both in the top and side menus. Naval encyclopedia also goes through some civilian aspects (clippers, liners, oil platforms, naval tech in general) and battles/tactics as well.

Generic placeholder image

⚒ Tech

Naval-related technology,
associated tactics & statistics


naval battles from the XIX to WW1, WW2 and cold war sea fights

⚔ Battles

Full history of naval battles,
strategies, tactics, fleets and ships


merchandisiding, plans, photos, illustrations

☘ Medias

Photos, blueprints, illustrations,
and Merch to support this site !


About Naval Encyclopedia

Naval Encyclopedia is the first online warship museum. She was laid down in St Nazaire Yard back in September 1995, launched in December 1996 and completed in March 1997, with 1000+ crew for now, and counting. Dedicated to the history of all ships of the industrial era and 20th century, so 1820 to 1990, but also earlier times. The main difference for this early period is to study ships types through some famous examples. After her last refit in 2023, the present ship has been repainted anew, modernized and made more appealing, ready for even more extensive service, hopefully staying in the current state for the next five years of service. Further improvements will be made if practicable. Numerous additions over the years also led to a complete machinery overhaul, new steam turbines and propellers.

Other ships from the same Yard