Posted in ww2 Royal Navy

HMS Pretoria Castle (1938)

United Kingdom – D94, Training Aircraft Carrier HMS Pretoria Castle (F61) was a freshly completed Harland & Wolff, Belfast-built Union-Castle…

Posted in ww1 Russian Navy

Pallada class Russian Imperial protected cruisers (1893)

Pallada class cruisers (1899) Imperial Russian Protected Cruisers: Pallada, Diana, Aurora The Pallada-class cruisers (“Diana-type” in Russian) were three protected…

Posted in cold war us navy

Charles F. Adams class missile destroyers (1960)

23 ships (DDG 2-DDG 24) 1958-99: USS Charles F. Adams, John King, Lawrence, Claude V. Ricketts, Barney, Henry B. Wilson,…

Posted in ww2 Royal Navy

HMS X1 (1923)

Cruiser Submersible 1921-1937: Nearly bankrupted by the war and in peace mood, Britain was not willing to engage in military…

Posted in ww2 French Naval Aviation

Loire 210 (1935)

Aéronautique Navale: 19 built total The French Naval Fighter A forgotten model, this French naval aircraft was the first dedicated…

Posted in ww2 US DDs ww2 US Navy

Somers class destroyers (1937)

Somers class Destroyers (1937) US Navy Large Destroyers (1937-48): USS Somers, Warrington, Sampson, Davis, Jouett, DD-381-86 The Somers-class were a…

Posted in ww1 US Navy

Caldwell class destroyers (1916)

USN Fleet Destroyers (1916-1947): USS Caldwell, Craven, Gwin, Conner, Stockton, Manley (DD-69-74) The Caldwell-class were six destroyers built for the…

Posted in ww2 US Navy

Alaska class heavy cruisers (1943)

Alaska class large cruisers (1943) USA (1941-65) – USS Alaska, Guam, Hawaii The Alaska class were the “great white elephants”…

Posted in 1890 fleets 1890 Spanish Armada War of 1898

Infanta Maria Teresa class cruisers (1890)

Spanish Armada (1888-1898): Armoured Cruisers Infanta Maria Teresa, Vizcaya, Almirante Oquendo If it is a dubious privilege to have three…

Posted in ww2 Kriegsmarine

Minenräumboot (R-Boote)

Germany (1929-45) – About 424 Minesweepers Introduction: The Räumboote, or “R-Boote” were the mass-produced wooden-built German coastal minesweepers. In time,…

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.

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⚒ 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