Posted in ww1 german navy

Nautilus class minelayers (1906)

Germany (1906): SMS Nautilus, Albatros The first two specialized German minelayers The Nautilus class were two minelaying cruisers planned for…

Posted in 1860 fleets secession war

USS Monitor (1862)

USS Monitor (1862) Union Navy First of the name & defining a type: The Monitor The USS Monitor is not…

Posted in ww1 german navy

Dresden class cruisers

Light Cruisers SMS Dresden, Emden (1908) Two famous ships The Dresden class followed the Königsberg class, but improved in size…

Posted in WW1 Japanese Navy WW2 Japanese Navy

WW2 IJN Destroyers

WW2 Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers About 80 destroyers 1919-1945 Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyer’s complete overview Japanese destroyers acquired a fearsome…

Posted in WW1 Royal Navy

Danae class cruisers (1918)

United Kingdom (1916-22), 8 light cruisersHMS Danae, Dauntless, Dragon, Delhi, Dunedin, Durban, Despatch, Diomede. HMS DELHI in bulgaria, during the…

Posted in cold war Italian Navy

Vittorio Veneto helicopter cruiser (1967)

Helicopter cruiser Vittorio Veneto (1967) In service 1969-2003 The last Italian helicopter missile cruiser Within the frame of NATO’s ASW…

Posted in bundesmarine

Type 201 class submarines (1960)

Bundesmarine (1960), 3 ships: U-1 – U-3 The Bundesmarine’s first submarines The Type 201 were the first post-WW2 German submarines…

Posted in Swedish Navy WWI Swedish-Navy-ww2

HSwMS Oscar II (1906)

Panzerkepp HSwMS Oscar II (1906) Swedish Navy – coastal battleship 1907-1974 HSwMS Oscar II was a coastal battleship (Panzerkepp) of…

Posted in WW2 IJN Aviation WW2 Naval Aviation

Yokosuka B4Y “Jean” (1935)

Yokosuka B4Y “Jean” (1935) Imperial Japanese Navy, 205 built The Mitsubishi B2M which needed replacement (1932), derived from the Blackburn…

Posted in WW2 Japanese Navy

Nagara class cruisers (1920)

Nagara class Cruisers (1920) Empire of Japan, 1920. Light Cruisers: IJN Nagara, Isuzu, Natori, Yura, Kinu, Abukuma The second “three…

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