WW1 Royal Navy

WW1 British Torpedo Boats (1879-1908)

by

WW1 British Torpedo Boats United Kingdom (1876-1905): Circa 120 vessels The forgotten linage One aspect of the Royal Navy which is frequently overlooked or downright forgotten, is the topic of Torpedo Boats. Just as for Gunboats. But it’s understandable as these vessels are more generally assimilated to small navies, not the world’s largest one. And … Read more

HMS Argus (1917)

by

Fleet (later Training) Aircraft Carrier United Kingdom (1914-1944) Forty years of career and two wars To the exception of HMS Furious, converted in 1917 and operational sooner, HMS Argus was also a veteran of two wars with 20 years of active service, the longest among British Aircraft Carriers. But to the difference of HMS Furious, … Read more

Duke of Edinburgh class (1904)

by

United Kingdom (1902-1906), Armored Cruisers: HMS Duke of Edinburgh, HMS Black Prince The Duke of Edinburgh-class were two armoured cruisers of the Royal Navy, launched in 1904. They were the first armoured cruisers designed for battlefleet service, and no longer merchant shipping escort. They served in the Atlantic, Channel and Home Fleets and during WW1, … Read more

WW1 British Monitors (1911-1918)

by

WWI Royal Navy Monitors United Kingdom (1912-1918): 42 Monitors Poster of all WWI British Monitors The last British monitors were dating back to the 1870s at a time there was great deal of experimentations. They resurfaced in WWI for the need of coastal bombardment, with the design and production in record time of dedicated vessels, … Read more

Duncan class Battleships (1901)

by

United Kingdom (1900-1904) HMS Albemarle, Cornwallis, Duncan, Exmouth, Montagu, Russel The last gasp of the “Russian scare” The “Peresvet killers” The six Duncan class were pre-dreadnought battleships ordered in response to Russian naval shipbuilding, notably the Peresvet class. They were there to hunt the hunters, as these Russian battleships were designed to go after the … Read more

Swiftsure class Battleships (1905)

by

HMS Swiftsure, Triumph (1904-1922): The only 2nd class Battleships of the RN in WWI The Swiftsure class were British pre-dreadnought originally ordered by Chile as the Constitución class during a naval arms race to counter’s Argentina own recent acquisitions, two armoured cruisers ordered in Italy (Garibaldi class). They were tailored-designed specifically for this role, to … Read more

Lord Nelson class battleships (1906)

by

United Kingdom (1908-1920): HMS Nelson, Agamemnon Last of their kinds and advanced semi-dreadnoughts The Nelson class was infortunate as the last pre-dreadnoughts Battleships built by Great Britain. They were launched in June and September 1906, while HMS Dreadnought was completed (she was commissioned in December 1906), but started in May 1905 (October 1905), and still, … Read more

King Edward VII class Battleships (1903)

by

United Kingdom (1902-1922) King Edward VII, Commonwealth, Dominion, Hindustan, Britannia, New Zealand, Africa, Hibernia The tipping point of British pre-dreadnoughts The eight battleships of the King Edward VII were the pinnacle of British capital ship development in their age, as the lead ship was launched in 1903. They retook the lead over innovative designs to … Read more

Danae class cruisers (1918)

by

United Kingdom (1916-22), 8 light cruisersHMS Danae, Dauntless, Dragon, Delhi, Dunedin, Durban, Despatch, Diomede. HMS DELHI in bulgaria, during the interwar The Danae class were the last large WW1 British light cruiser serie, also called “D” class to distinguish them from the “C class” they replaced, or the following “E” class which construction was only … Read more