ww2 Royal Navy

Leander class cruisers (1931)

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United Kingdom (1931-35) HMS Leander, Achilles, Ajax, Neptune, Orion, HMAS Perth, Sydney, Hobart The ANZAC light cruisers The 5 Leanders (completed in 1933-34) and the 3 Australian Perth (1934-35) were the first light cruisers built since the Enterprise class of 1920. With their twin 6-in turrets, they were more of an adaptation of the previous … Read more

Dido class AA cruisers (1939)

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United Kingdom (1937-55) Dido, Bonaventure, Naiad, Phoebe, Cleopatra, Charybdis, Euryalus, Hermione, Scylla, Sirius, Argonaut The First Dedicated Royal Navy British AA cruisers The Dido class were at first developed as conventional light cruisers, but in 1937 the designed evolved quickly as dedicated AA cruisers, whereas plans were made to convert vintage WWI vessels of the … Read more

York class cruisers

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United Kingdom – HMS Exeter, HMS York The last British heavy cruisers Development of the “Class B” – York design The County class is generally known as Washington cruiser design “Class A” cruiser, reaching the top of what could be done within the 10,000-ton range. However already when they were designed in the 1920s it … Read more

WW2 British Aircraft Carriers

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WW2 British Aircraft Carriers Circa 52 aircraft carriers, built and started WW2 The leading nation in aircraft carriers: If the United States are remembered today for a considerable fleet of aircraft carriers, the type was first thought after and developed in Great Britain. Along with UK, Japan was also quite enthusiastic about naval air warfare, … Read more

HMS Furious (1917)

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HMS Furious (1917) United Kingdom – Aircraft Carrier History’s first aircraft carrier The HMS Furious is like a warship with several lives. She started as a battlecruiser, evolved into an hybrid plane carrier, an experimental aircraft carrier during WW1, and a modern aircraft carrier during WW2. But above all, she was the first to carry … Read more

County class cruisers

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United Kingdom (1926-1929) – 13 heavy cruisers: Berwick, Cumberland, Suffolk, Kent, Cornwall, London, Devonshire, Sussex, Shropshire, Norfolk, Dorsetshire, Surrey (cancelled, +1), Australia (RAN), Canberra (RAN) The staple of Interwar British cruiser Force With their three funnels, large and tall hull these cruisers were difficult to miss in the Royal Navy, or in any recoignition book … Read more

Nelson class battleships (1925)

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Nelson class Battleships (1925) United Kingdom (1922-1949) HMS Nelson, Rodney The Nelson class were two British Battleships completed in 1927-28. These were one of these icons of WW2, rather more diverse in terms of battleships, in terms of quality rather than quantity compared to WWI. After the rapid cost rise in capital ship the 10 … Read more

Enterprise class cruisers

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United Kingdom (1920) Light Cruisers – Enterprise, Emerald The little known “E” class The two Enterprise (Enterprise and Emerald) or “E” class vessels were the last British light cruisers built during the Great War. However, the lack of manpower and shipbuilding priority given to destroyers meant that their launch only took place in 1920. They … Read more

Renown class battlecruisers (1916)

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HMS Repulse, Renown (1916) Veterans of two wars: The Renown class battlecruisers were initially planned as two extra battleships of the Revenge class, or which five were already in construction. Admiral Sir Jackie Fisher was rebuffed by the admiralty for more battlecruisers, but after the first battles of 1914, opinion changed, and Fisher convinced Churchill … Read more