Navistory Germany (1937-39): 8 boats completed, 6 lost: U-37 to U-44 After detailing the Type VII lineage it was logical to also detail the other main U-Boat Type in service in WW2: The Type IX. Aside the already comprehensive article made back in Dec. 2019, this one will be on the birth of the type, its … Read more
Swedish Submersibles 1916-1946: HSwMS Hajen, Sälen, Valrossen New Cycle: Swedish WW2 and Cold War submarines. We start with the oldest still in service when WW2 broke out, the Hajen class. They were essentially based on the German Type UB-III U-boat but modified for Swedish service by Kockums, with the stern tube removed, and the prow … Read more
MAS Boats 1915-1918 Motoscafo Armato Silurante & Motoscafo antisommergibili: 419 total. Development Ruling the Adriatic Arguably one of the most interesting development of the torpedo carrier was made in Italy back in 1915. It’s somewhat a good fit as the story of the torpedo as a whole started in Adriatic. Long story short, the early … Read more
Germany (1913-1916): 71 Type 1913 Hochseetorpedoboot: 62 lost. The German V25-class were the largest class of destroyers (“Hochseetorpedoboote”) or “high seas torpedo boats”, albeit in service with the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliches Marine) they were designated as the Großes Torpedoboot 1913 Klasse. They former the bulk of its fleet operations in 1914-18, issued from the … Read more
Regia Marina 1942-43: Aliseo, Animoso, Ardente, Ardimentoso, Ardito, Ciclone, Fortunale, Ghibli, Impavido, Impetuoso, Indomito, Intrepido, Monsone, Tifone, Uragano. The Ciclone class were the third class of Italian torpedo boats built, these one in World War II, last being the Ariete class. No consideration was given to the Washington or London treaty limits in 1942 so … Read more
Sjøforsvaret: 6 Kustjager: Sleipner, Æger, Gyller, Odin, Tor, Balder 1936-59 The modest Norwegian Navy had a few modern assets in construction or in service in 1940 when Germany launched their invasion, Operation Weserübung. The largest were the Aalesund class destroyer, started in 1940, launched in 1941 under German control but never completed, and the Sleipner … Read more
UK, Royal Navy: 28 (on 86 Hunt total) Escort DDs. The Hunt class Type III were the last mass-built destroyer escorts, and arguably the best armed and ironed-out of the series. Tenty eight were completed in 1942-43 in about a year of construction at Yarrow, White, Vickers, Swan Hunter, Stephens, Fairefield, Camell Laird, Hawthorne leslie, … Read more
✈ 20/07/2026 Hawker Osprey (1930) The Hawker Osprey was the navalized carrier-borne version of the Hart, a versatile model powered by a Rolls-Royce Kestrel II engine for 168 mph (270 km/h). 103 were built, the last still used in the fleet air arm by 1944 as a trainer. Those deployed in Malta for ASW and … Read more
Japan 1934-45: I-65/165, 66/166, 67/166 large oceanic submarines. The Kaidai V type (“Navy large type V”) or I-65-class (海大5型) Kaidai-go-gata, Project number S29, built under the 1923-1928 programme, had only I-165, I-166, and I-67 which construction, all completed in 1932. The design was an upgrade with a new deck gun going from 50 caliber to … Read more
Coastal Submersibles (U-class long hull 1941/1942 programs) V-class: 22 +24 cancelled, War Emergency Programme 1942, built 1942-1944 The V-class, officially the “U class, long hull”, was a late war ultimate variant of the wartime U-class, the third pillar of the British underwater Forces in world war two, especially active in the Mediterranean. These were a … Read more
