Posted in ww2 French Navy

Bourrasque class Destroyers (1924)

French Navy – Standard 1500t destroyers, 14 built 1925-1931, in service until 1952: The Bourrasque class was an important class…

Posted in Cold war British Ships

HMS Hermes (1953)

Fleet Aircraft Carrier 1944-2017: HMS Elephant (1944), HMS Hermes (1959-85), INS Viraat (1986-2021) The story of HMS Hermes is one…

Posted in cold war Italian Navy

Impetuoso class destroyers (1952)

The first Italian postwar destroyers Built 1952-83: Impetuoso, Indomito Italy Army Day ! The Impetuso or Indomito class depending on…

Posted in cold war us navy

Leahy Class Cruisers (1963)

9 cruisers (1961-64): USS Leahy, Harry E Yarnell, Worden, Dale, Richmond K Turner, Gridley, England, Halsey, Reeves (DLG-16 to 25)….

Posted in Uncategorized

Halloween Special ! Ugliest Ship ever

The POLL is closed Results: -HMS Victoria (1887) (1) -french hotel warships (1)* -The round ship (1) -USS Choctaw (2)…

Posted in ww1 german navy

U1 (1906)

German Empire (1906-1919, preserved 1921) Experimental U-Boat The first U-Boat The path towards 1914 U-Boats started somewhat later than other…

Posted in ww2 italian naval aviation

CANT Z501 Gabbiano (1934)

Standard Observation Seaplane Aviazione Ausiliaria per la Regia Marina 454 built 1934-43 The CANT Z.501 Gabbiano (“Gull”) was a high-wing…

Posted in Coldwar Soviet Ships

Kola class frigates (1951)

Project 42 Sokol class, Strozhevoi Korabl (light escort) Frigates 8 General Purpose Frigates 1949-1980 The Kola class frigates were known…

Posted in ww2 Royal Navy

Swiftsure class cruisers (1943)

United Kingdom (1942-45) HMS Swiftsure, Minotaur, Superb, Hawke, Bellerophon, Blake, Defence, Mars The last “classic” British cruiser of WW2 were…

Posted in 1860 fleets austrian-navy

Drache class ironclads (1860)

The first Austro-Hungarian Broadside ironclad Austro-Hungarian Navy, 1862-1883: SMS Drache, Salamander Austrian Fleet | pre-WW1 fleet | WW1 fleet 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