Posted in ww1 Italian Navy

Libia (1912)

Protected Cruiser, 1913-1937 Libia was an Italian protected cruiser in service by 1913. She had an unusual story. She was…

Posted in cold war us navy

USS Darter SS-576 (1956)

Conventional Attack Submarine 1956-1989. An experimental conventional hunter killer USS Darter (SS-576) was essentially a repeat Tang class incorporating many…

Posted in ww1 german navy

Helgoland class Battleships (1909)

Germany (1912) Helgoland, Ostfriesland, Thüringen, Oldenburg The Helgoland class Battleships were very similar to the previous Nassau, first generation of…

Posted in Cold war British Ships ww2 Royal Navy

HMS Vanguard (1944)

United Kingdom (1939-1960) Genesis of the Vanguard design It should be tempting to reduce HMS Vanguard to a solution for…

Posted in 1870 Fleets austrian-navy

Kaiser Max class ironclads (1862)

The broadside ironclads with a double life Austro-Hungarian Navy, 1862-1883: SMS Kaiser Max, Juan d’Austria, Prinz Eugen Austrian Fleet |…

Posted in cold war French ships ww2 French Navy

FS Jean Bart (1940)

French Navy (1949-70), Rebuilt Battleship Backstory: An unfinished battleship in WW2 FS Jean Bart was the sister ship of Richelieu,…

Posted in Coldwar Soviet Ships soviet submarines

November class Submarines (1957)

Project 627 “Kit” nuclear attack submarines 14 submarines 1957-63: One project 627, twelve project 627A, one project 645 Known in…

Posted in ww2 US DDs ww2 US Navy

Gearing class Destroyers (1945)

US Navy Fleet Destroyers (1944-90): 104 vessels The Gearings were the last American destroyers of the war. They mirrored the…

Posted in Coldwar Soviet Ships

Mirka class Frigates (1960)

Project 35/35M ASW Frigates 18 ASW Frigates of the Mirka I & II, 1960-1990 After the early phase centered around…

Posted in Cold war British Ships

Sheffield (Type 42) class missile destroyers (1971)

Royal Navy Guided Missile Destroyers (1975-2013): HMS Sheffield, Birmingham, Newcastle, Coventry, Glasgow, Cardiff, Exeter (b2), Southampton, Liverpool, Nottingham, Manchester(b3), York,…

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.

⚒ Tech

Naval-related technology,
associated tactics & statistics


⚔ Battles

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


☘ 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