Posted in 1870 Spanish Armada

Spanish Broadside Ironclad Numancia (1863)

Spanish Broadside Ironclad (1862-1910) Numancia was a French-built Ironclad, the first “battleship” ever in service with the Armada. She had…

Posted in ww2 Kriegsmarine

Dornier Leichte Schnellboote (1942)

Leichte Schnellboote Germany (1942-45) – About 27 LS boats 1936-1945 Genesis of the “light fast (T)boats” The German Leichte Schnellboote…

Posted in WW1 Royal Navy

Swiftsure class Battleships (1905)

Swiftsure class Battleships (1905) HMS Swiftsure, Triumph (1904-1922): The only 2nd class Battleships of the RN in WWI The Swiftsure…

Posted in WW2 Naval Aviation ww2 USN Aviation

Ryan FR-1 Fireball (1944)

Ryan FR-1 Fireball (1945) US Navy mixted piston/jet fighter (1944-47), 71 built The Ryan FR Fireball was the sole US…

Posted in Argentine Navy

WW2 Argentinian Destroyers

Argentinian Destroyers 22 Destroyers (1911-1942) WWI Destroyers, still active in WW2 ARA Corrientes In 1906, Argentina had the following: Three…

Posted in 1890 fleets

Matsushima class protected cruisers (1888-94)

Matsushima class Cruisers (1889) Protected cruisers 1888-1926: IJN Matsushima, Itsukushima, Hashidate The Yalu Protected Cruisers These three cruisers played a…

Posted in ww2 US Navy

Midway class aircraft carriers (1945)

Midway class USA – Fleet Aircraft Carriers (1945-92): USS Midway, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Coral Sea The first USN armoured aircraft…

Posted in WW2 IJN Aviation WW2 Naval Aviation

Aichi D3A “Val” (1936)

Aichi D3A (1938) Imperial Japanese Navy, 1,495 built The D3A2 “Val” main IJN Dive Bomber in 1941 The “Val” as…

Posted in WW2 Japanese Navy

Light Aircraft Carrier IJN Ryūhō (1933)

Japan, 1933-45. IJN Ryūhō was one of the five converted light fleet aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (alongside…

Posted in U-Boats ww2 Kriegsmarine

Type XIV “Milchkühe” U-Boats (1941)

Type XIV “Milchkühe” U-Boats, Hitler’s Milk Cows Germany (1941-42): 10 U-boats Maintaining Wolf Packs at sea One aspect 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.

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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