Warship
The end of the period of the sailing men-of-war
CSS Alabama The end of the period of the sailing men-of-war was not suddenly apparent,” noted the maritime historian Howard I. Chapelle, “nor was it marked by a dramatic flourish.” During the three decades after the wars of the French Revolution and Empire, the refinement of the sailing warship continued, reaching its apogee in the late 1840s. Except for their…
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HMS SHEFFIELD: SEPTEMBER 1939 – AUGUST 1945
HMS Sheffield: 1940 HMS Sheffield: 1942 Possibly the most active of all the ‘Town’ class cruisers, Sheffield commenced her wartime service as part of 18CS with the Home Fleet. She was heavily committed to search and interception patrols during this period, also deploying occasionally with the fleet. On 26 September…
The Royal George Disaster
The “Royal George” at Deptford Showing the Launch of “The Cambridge”. After three years of relentless siege, everyone on Gibraltar was starving, war-weary and desperate for the relief convoy to arrive, not realising that it was yet to set sail on the 1500-mile journey. The convoy was still at Spithead,…
Russian Heavy Frigates
Capturing of Swedish 44-gun frigate Venus by Russian 22-gun cutter Merkuriy of June 1, 1789. Captured Swedish heavy frigate Venus. The spring of 1789 was marked by two single-ship actions on the part of a young Irish-born Lieutenant, Commander Roman Crown, that were to have long-term consequences for Russian naval…
THE DEATH OF A BATTLESHIP
It was now almost 09.15. On Rodney, Bismarck’s slow northerly progress had blocked the arc of fire of ‘X’ turret. Dalrymple-Hamilton therefore turned his battleship to starboard, until she headed south, on a course roughly parallel to that of Bismarck, at a range of 5 miles. Just before she turned,…
IJN Battleship Pagoda Masts
The Imperial Japanese navy conducted a more thorough battleship reconstruction programme than any fleet except the Italian, extending ships’ hulls, adding considerable power, and modernising fire control (with added gun elevation to match). The two Fuso-class battleships (Yamashiro is shown) were the first, and their ‘pagoda’ foremasts were the most…
San Martín (c1579)
San Martín was a fine example of Portuguese shipbuilding skills. Note the bonaventure mast, set well in-board and not requiring the precarious stern-boom fitted on Henry Grace à Dieu. This painting by Charles Dixon (1872–1934) of the action between San Martín and Ark Royal in the Channel is indicative of…