Historical Naval Battles

Vintage photographs depicting naval forces during historical wars, featuring battleships and aircraft carriers in action or at anchor.

Torpedo Boats - British Navy. August 24, 1939.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Operation CHASTISE: the attack on the Moehne, Eder and Sorpe Dams by No. 617 Squadron RAF on the night of 16/17 May 1943. No. 617 Squadron practice dropping the 'Upkeep' weapon at Reculver bombing range, Kent. Third launch sequence (4): fuselage panelling falls from Munro's Lancaster after being damaged by the plume of water thrown up by the bomb.

The Guns The Italians Would Not Face -- "H.M.S. Nelson fires a broadside. This battleship was one of the force which escorted the recent convoy to Malta.Although the Italian fleet was at sea, it did not dare to face these guns. September 09, 1942. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

Smoke Of Battle -- In ***** harmony, eight-inch guns of an American heavy cruiser belch smoke and flame as they blast North Korean military targets on the east coast of Korea during operations in support of United Nations land forces, now grimly battling to hold off heaviest-yet attacks on all fronts of their narrow bridgehead. September 04, 1950. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Landing craft approach Tok Sok Ri Beach while the dock landing ship USS MONTICELLO (LSD-35) and a tank landing ship are anchored off shore during exercise Team Spirit '82. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT '82 Base: Pohang Country: Korea

Indo-China - On Fire And Listing To Starboard After Attack By North American B-25 Of The Air Apaches Group On March 29, 1945, The Destroyer Escort "Frigate" Spills Its Crew Over The Side As It Begins To Sink. The Attacking Planes Got Away Before Ships' G

Oscar II (depicted - name).Oscar II (depicted - name)

The Opening Up of a Continent (West Africa - Magazine Unit Story). Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Vintage Photograph. Coast guard fighting fire on fishing boat

Air Defense on a US Navy Torpedo Boat - A sailor in training to handle a U.S. Navy PT torpedo boat mans one of the twin 50 cal AA machine guns which form the ship's aerial defenses. These machine guns, plus depth bombs and torpedoes, have enabled PT boats to engage larger enemy vessels. Circa 1944.

USA/Japan: A U.S. Army Air Force B-25B Mitchell medium bomber, one of sixteen involved in the Doolittle Raid, takes off from the flight deck of the USS Hornet for an air raid on the Japanese Home Islands, April 18, 1942

Battleship Over Sunk Submarine O. -- The French Battleship "Richelieu" is seen here skirting an oil patch (marked by arrow), fine kilometers from Cap Camarat, off St. Tropez, southern France today. The oil patch is believed to come from the Submarine "Sybille", former the royal naval Submarine "sportsman" now on loan to the French navy, which failed to surface after ***** near this area yesterday morning September 24. On board were a crew of 48. A naval spokesman at Toulon naval base said this evening there was no indication of what trouble the sybille may have had, but when it was unable to surface, the Submarine must have gone down to a depth of about 250 meters where the hull was caved in by pressure of water. October 7, 1952. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War In the distance, two of the ships on northern convoy duty near-missed by a stick of bombs during an air attack by German Junkers JU 88s. Photograph taken from the cruiser SCYLLA.

Where Bomb Smashed Lexington Deck -- Repair crew works on deck of the U.S.S. Lexington, aircraft carrier, after Jap Bomb struck glancing blow during early phase of battle of the Coral Sea. A number of marine gunners were killed near the five inch Gun in foreground. Later the Lexington was lost in a fire resulting from Battle. June 17, 1942. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

The Japaneseanese Takanni Class Destroyer Founders After Attack By A North American B-25 Of The Air Apaches Group On 6 April 1945. This Action Took Place 30 Miles Below Amoy, China. 345Th Bomb Group.

Mms 206 Underway.

1940S Marines Emerge From Naval Landing Craft On A Half Track Vehicle Armed With Guns Soldiers War Invasion Weapon Military Wwii

Texas City Fire Aerial.

Photograph of Burning and Damaged Ships at Pearl HarborBurning and damaged ships at Pearl Harbor result of Japanese attack, Dec. 7 1941. L. to R. USS Arizona, USS Tennessee, and USS West Virginia.

South China Seas, October, 1941A crew of Japanese torpedomen stand beside a bank of torpedo tubes aboard a destroyer in the South China Seas.

89L. Atomic Bomb Scenes At Bikini. July 30, 1946. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Smoking Coast Guard Ship After Collision -- Smoke rolls from the Coast Icebreaker, the Eastwind, after a collision today with a tanker, the SS Gulfstream, off Cape May in the Atlantic Ocean, Arrow points to gaping hole in the side of the coast guard ship which is listing after the accident. January 19, 1949. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Rockets Sail From Raf Mustangs Of Desert Air Force -- Part Of Mataf - Toward Aa Positions On Tiny Isle Off Venice, Italy.

Anefo photo collection. The American fleet at the Marshall Islands arched in the foreground a Grunman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. 1945

Imperial German fleet under steam in the Bay of Kiel. The Imperial naval dockyards and the base of the fleet were at Kiel. Early 20th century.

Loaded with New Zealanders, invasion boats head for the shore of Vella Lavella island, while empty boats return to the transports for more men. October 28, 1947. (Photo by US Army Signal Corps Photo).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War HM Motor Minesweeper 88 lying at anchor during minesweeping operations off Anzio, Italy.

British Fleet Maneuvers In The Atlantic - The 15inch guns of H.M.S. Hood being fired.The combined Home and Mediterranean Fleets are now carrying out their spring maneuvers in the North Atlantic. Calm weather has followed the gales and rough seas which the fleet at first experienced. May 01, 1934. (Photo by Keystone).

DN-SN-86-00035. Base: USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The British Hospital ship NEWFOUNDLAND leaving Algiers harbour.

Massachusetts - Graves. Wave effect at point where oil-house is located.

Combined Air Naval Exercises Off Manus Island Now Proceeding: British submarine "Thorough" being attacked by Anti Sub Neptune Bomber. October 15, 1954. (Photo by Alton L. Frazer, Australian Photographic Agency Picture).

The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7) burning after receiving three torpedo hits from the Japanese submarine I-19 east of the Solomons, 15 September 1942.

Taken Jan. 26, 1943: An Axis supply ship sinking by the bows in the Mediterranean after it had been attacked by Allied aircraft. Members of the crew are to be seen at left rowing away from the sinking vessel in small craft. Aircraft operating from

Rabaul Harbor. Japanese ship in foreground is burning. White plume in center foreground is water spout from bomb burst outside focus of camera. Plane in left center is USAF North American B-25, passing over spot on water where either bomb or shell had

The Royal Navy during the Second World War An American built Chance-Vought Corsair takes off from the flight deck of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.

Anefo photo collection. Ned. Forces liberate Netherlands, sleep German-built Bunkers / Kingdom Dutch Princess Irene Brigade. February 1945. Vrouwenpolder, Zeeland

Soldiers Of France Train Once More For War -- These scenes show various phases in the training routine of members of the first armored division of the French Expeditionary Forces. The personnel, men who escaped from France after German occupation and others from French territory in Africa, uses American equipment which started to arrive in North Africa in April. December 08, 1943. (Photo by William C. Allen, Associated Press Photo).

1940s UNITED STATES NAVY LANDING CRAFT RAMP BOATS FILL THE WATER AS INVASION FORCE SOLDIERS MAKE FOR SHORE

A number of Hawker FGA-50 Seahawk (jet) Jachthouse aircraft with O.A Registration 50 (1957-1964) and 57 (1957-1964) of the Marine Aviation Service (MLD) start their engines at the aircraft deck of the aircraft camp Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman (R 81, EX-VENERABLE) in 1958.

Warranty section of HR. Ms. The seven provinces (1953-1975) from April 6 to June 2, 1954. In the high seas. Is part of the AVDKM 540216 to 540344 object series, portion AVDKM 540229 to 540244, excl. 540242.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War An MTB at speed.

The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli or the Battle of Çanakkale (Turkish: Çanakkale Savasi), took place on the Gallipoli peninsula in the Ottoman Empire (now Gelibolu in modern day Turkey) between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War. A joint British and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (Istanbul) and secure a sea route to Russia. The attempt failed, with heavy casualties on both sides. The campaign was considered one of the greatest victories of the Turks and was reflected on as a major failure by the Allies. The Gallipoli campaign resonated profoundly among all nations involved. In Turkey, the battle is perceived as a defining moment in the history of the Turkish peoplea final surge in the defence of the motherland as the ageing Ottoman Empire was crumbling. The struggle laid the grounds for the Turkish War of Independence and the foundation of the Republic of Tu

Droece's Corsair Fits The prink -- Utill trying to level off and at the ***** time work up flying speed, Lt. jg ***** catches his left wingtip in the water of the Japan Sea. A moments later his plane ***** in to the son. At this moment, Boxer's helicopter piloted by Lt. jg Henry M. Duerein holtz of 2200 Southwest 18th Ave., Fort Lauderdalo, Fla., is moving swiftly toward the downed out of the path of the massive carrier in the menztime. May 19, 1951. (Photo by Official US Navy Photograph).

Anefo photo collection. Cornelis van der Slot, Nick Hoogendam Basil Dominic Izzi stayed 83 days raft, tormented hunger thirst, ship turged "Zaandam" November 2, 1942 German submerged south Atlantic Ocean. January 23, 1943

Japan/USA: US invasion fleet landing at Iwo Jima, Mount Suribachi dominating the beaches, February 1945

The U.S. Navy submarine USS Skipjack (SSN-585) underway, circa 1965.

The King Reviews His Fleet - H.M. King George VI to-day reviewed the ships of the British Navy at Spithead, Portsmouth.The Royal yacht, Victoria & Albert, passing down the lines of battleships. In background left to right are - H.M.S. Royal Oak, H.M.S. Rodney, H.M.S. Helson, U.S.N. New York, Dunkerque (France), Moreno (Argentine). In foreground is bow of the Admiralty yacht Enchantress. June 14, 1937. (Photo by Topical Press).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A Supermarine Walrus aircraft being catapulted from HMS MAURITIUS.

Okinawa, Japan: April 1, 1945 A rocket firing Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) helps soften up Okinawa for our troops landing there.

RAF Coastal Command 1939-45 One of a sequence of photographs showing a Dornier Do 18 that was attacked and forced down over the North Sea by a Hudson of Coastal Command, 14 April 1940.

Anefo photo collection. A German Henschel airport breaker comes into action after a plane crash. Probably Valkenburg airport. undated. Valkenburg, South Holland, South Holland

1940s DECEMBER 7 1941 BURNING NAVY SHIPS IN PEARL HARBOR AFTER SURPRISE ATTACK BY JAPANESE

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Boemiajoe, Cheribon, Tom, Tjilatjap. Landing vessel LST 627 "Pelican" is a moored at the beach. The shutters are already open,. Mancens come to land. October 22, 1947. Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies

Taikoo dockyard, Hong Kong, China, under attack January 16, 1945, by U.S. Navy planes of Vice Admiral John S. McCain's Fast Carrier Task Force. The yard is used primarily for repair work, refitting and reconditioning. Bomb explosion to the left damaged and set fire to a 4500 ton freighter-transport ship. Smoke and fire to the right are rising from a direct hit on machine shops. Airmen encountered some of the stiffest anti-aircraft fire yet seen Pacific. February 12, 1945. (Photo by U.S. Navy Photograph).

Pacific War: A fuel dump and a sugar refinery burn after a US airstrike on the island of Saipan on 16 June 1944. The Battle of Saipan (15 June to 9 July, 1944) was a key Pacific battle during World War II, fought between the armed forces of the United States and Japan(Photo by: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

Marines of the 36th Marine Amphibious Unit assault Scusset Beach. While some of the Marines disembark on LVTP-7 tracked landing vehicles, in the background two other amtracks are coming to the beach and an amphibious transport ship stands off shore. State: Montana (MT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The Kite Balloon Drifter ROGER BLONDE delivering a balloon to a merchant ship in the River Mersey. This vessel was manned entirely by Belgian seamen who escaped from Belgium during the invasion of the low countries in May 1940. They were attached to the Kite Balloon Section of the Royal Navy which delivered balloons to any merchant ship that may require them.

The battleship USS MISSOURI (BB-63) fires one of the turret No. 2 Mark 7 16-inch/50-caliber guns at a target ship during Fleet Exercise '89. Seventh view of a series of seven. Subject Operation/Series: FLEET EXERCISE '89 Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

Anti-Submarine Patrol In The Caribbean -- A depth charge explodes during maneuvers off the Panama Canal, demonstrating the anti-submarine power of U.S. Navy torpedo boats. Those mile-a-minute boats, similar to those which first became famous in the Pacific under General Douglas MacArthur, are extensively used in the Caribbean Defense Command under ***** Gen. George H. Brett. April 12, 1943. (Photo by International News Pictures, Inc.).

DN-SN-88-07655. Country: Unknown

Gasoline tanks at Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies go up in smoke after a low-level bombing and strafing attack by 13th AAF medium bombers. In two minutes over the target, the "Jungle Air Force" B-25s dropped 15 tons of bombs, fired 70,000

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Photos Liberation North Sumatra. Catalina flight lands at sea. December 19, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

An L type zeppelin airship pictured accompanying a squadron of German battleships at sea. Featured in the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News at the time when the Germans had bombarded the East Coast. The Zeppelin's took part in this activity in an observation capacity. Date: 1916

President of the Republic Enrico De Nicola arriving in Genoa, November 3, 1946, Italy, 20th century.

Anti-submarine Patrol, Aboard Hmt Stoke City. November 1942. Escorting an oil tanker into harbour - another of the trawler's duties.

M60A1 tanks from the 2nd Marine Division come ashore from utility landing craft LCU 1645 as Operation NORTHERN WEDDING '82 gets underway. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WEDDING '82 Base: Oxsbol Country: Denmark (DNK)

Anefo photo collection. De Schelphoek on Schouwen. Hole in shell angle 600m. July 9, 1953. Schouwen-Duiveland, Zeeland

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The monitor HMS EREBUS's 15 inch guns. One of the ship's 4 inch anti aircraft guns can be seen below them.

A British military airplane hit by the Italian Navy over the Mediterranean, World War II, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year LXVIII, No 42, October 19, 1941.

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Royal Marine Commandos going down the ramp of a landing craft tank in an Alligator amphibious personnel carrier, whilst some more men in a Weasel amphibious carrier are about to follow. The LCT has just beached on the island of Walcheren at Westkapelle, the most western point of the island, during the final phase of the battle to free the Belgian port of Antwerp. Note the badly damaged buildings and sea defences in the background.

Dunkirk and the Retreat From France 1940 French sailors on the deck of a destroyer during the evacuation from France, June 1940.

The U.S. Army Jeep.... A Militarist's Dream Come True -- Dive bombed attacking a transport ship as it reaches harbor are repulsed by fire coming from Army Jeeps lined up on dock, in this artist's conception. October 03, 1942.

Japan: Aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Shokaku prepare to take off to attack Pearl Harbor on the morning of 7 December 1941

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

Strike Three -- And Still She Floats! -- Three times a victim of vicious enemy attack, the valiant USS Birmingham is back at sea -- still afloat in spite of her dep battle scars. First slashed by a Torpedo in 1943, Later riddled like a sleve when the USS Princeton blew up alongside her, The Birmingham suffered her most serious blow off Okinawa on May 4, 1945. Zooming out of the sun in a sttep dive, a Jap Kamikaze and its 500-pound bomb crashed just aft of the Birmingham's number 2 Turret. Forty-

Marshall Mars Aflame -- Smoke billows from the fiercely burning Marshall Mars after a forced landing near Pearl Harbor, T. H. Apr. 5. Fire broke out when the Navy flying boat was on a test flight a mile off Oahu Island. Minutes after this aerial photo was made an explosion rocked the plane sending it to the bottom shortly after. Crewmen escaped safely. April 06, 1950. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941 - View of Battleship Row during or immediately after the Japanese raid. USS West Virginia (BB-48) is at the right sunk alongside USS Tennessee (BB-43), with oil fires shrouding them both. The capsized USS Oklahoma (BB-37) is at the left, alongside USS Maryland (BB-46). Crewmen on the latter's stern are using firehoses to try to push burning oil away from their ship.

DD-536 Owens , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

British torpedo craft in North sea storms, First World War, 1914. Artist: Unknown

Sweden, Blekinge, Blekinge, Karlskrona, Karlskrona, external marina (depicted, town).Sweden, Blekinge, Blekinge, Karlskrona, Karlskrona, External War Gogs (depicted, City)

The Royal Navy during the Second World War 'Flying Flossie' the Fleet Air Arm's strangest aircraft in flight during a catapult test. 'Flying Flossie' is a steel water tank on wheels used to test the aircraft catapults in HM warships before they launch 'live' aircraft. A small tug is sailing past in the distance.

Black and white photograph of World War II (1939-1945); the Allied Offensive in Northern Africa; an enormous Armada of 850 ships approaches the African coast on 8 November 1942.

PT Boat's guns Sting Japanese tonys

Crete: A German Troop ***** To Its Doom -- A cloud of smoke marks the place where the German troops carrier crashed, while parachute troops from another aircraft descent to meet the fire of the British troops.On Crete the German bombing of the ***** near Candia, was followed by "ground strafing ***** Messerschmitts. While these fighters patrolled the bombed area, troop-carrying aircraft followed in, escorted by bombers. Parachute troops, of whom 60-70 per cent were destroyed before reaching ground, were then dropped. These photographs show the shotting down in flames by A.A. gunfire of a German troop-carrying aircraft. June 14, 1941. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

The Conning Towers Of The Two Type 21 Submarines Are Seen Sticking Out Of The Water After Being Bombed In A Night Attack Last April 8 1945, While The Ship Was Taking On Stores, At Hamburg, Germany

italia, sardegna, mattanza dei tonni al largo dell'isola di san pietro, 1921

Kamikaze suicide planes. September 10, 1945. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Queen Elizabeth. April 20, 1947. (Photo by The Associated Press photo Ltd.).

The Battle of Narvik, Norway, 1940 The landings at Bjervic during the battle of Narvik after fierce bombardment by British ships.

The starboard side saluting battery is fired aboard the battleship USS IOWA (BB-61) in recognition of Independence Day. Base: Cartagena Country: Colombia (COL)

Photograph of Alfred von Tirpitz (1849-1930) a German Großadmiral, Secretary of State of the German Imperial Naval Office. Dated 20th Century

The Colonel Sets Net -- A minor misfortune overtook Lieut. Gen. Thomas Holcomb's party while making an inspection of Guadalcanal. Here an unnamed colonel in the Marine commandants party is being fished out of a river after losing his footing while getting Ashore from a rubber boat. The Navy caption with the picture said no Marine laughed -- at least out loud. November 22, 1942. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A British convoy with balloon protection against low flying aircraft, leaving the port of Milford Haven.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Five Chance-Vought Corsair fighters flying in the middle distance as a Fairey Barracuda takes off from HMS FORMIDABLE in the foreground.

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

Vintage photograph. View from the fan tail of an aircraft carrier in the Korean War Zone

Sands of Iwo Jima', 1949. Amphibious landing craft, most important engine of the Pacific conflict.

Photograph of the USS Zircon (PY-16)"USS Zircon (PY 16). Taken by NAS Weeksville.".

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