← Military & Defence

Military Ships of the Past

Black and white images of various historical naval ships, illustrating naval design and wartime operations.

Royal Pakistan Navy Arrives for CelebrateThe frigates H.M.P.S. Shamsher & HMPS Sind outside the heads in a heavy Squal. Before entering Harbor.. today. January 24, 1951. (Photo by Gordon Herbert Short/Fairfax Media).

Britain's Big Ships in the Mediterranean - Pictures Made From HMS Formidable. 15 To 17 April 1943, in the Mediterranean, on Board the 23,000 Ton Aircraft Carrier HMS Formidable. The British cruiser NEWFOUNDLAND in a heavy sea.

HMS Salvictor. 25 November 1956.

A starboard quarter view of the guided missile cruiser USS CHOSIN (CG 65) underway prior to its commissioning. Country: Gulf Of Mexico

The battleship Arizona, smoke pouring from her battered hulk and ***** still flying, shortly after the raid. February 27, 1942. (Photo by Interphoto News Pictures, Inc.).

The San Marcos used as a Naval Target. After a few minutes this once magnificent ship became a wreck. American Navy, circa 1915

DD-565 Smalley , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

A starboard side view of the amphibious assault ship USS NASSAU (LHA-4) sailing through choppy seas along the fog shrouded coastline. The NASSAU is taking part in NATO Exercise Teamwork '92. Subject Operation/Series: TEAMWORK '92 Country: Norwegian Coast

HMS Hood, battlecruiser Date:

A starboard beam view of the mine countermeasures ship USS DEFENDER (MCM 2) underway. Country: Unknown

AM-456 Inflict , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

During the second proof of the pool star (A 835), the new supply ship for the Royal Navy, it is once again tested whether everything works properly and whether the changes made are now also meet all the requirements. Polish star bridge building with a portion of the front deck.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The battleship HMS RODNEY underway in the Mediterranean (photographed from the aircraft carrier HMS FORMIDABLE).

Anefo photo collection. returning Den Helder Fairwind 1986 exercise East; HR. MS. "De Ruyter". 19 June 1986. Den Helder

DN-SN-90-04303. Base: Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Four Battleships AT Anchor In Osaka Harbour -- The Flagship of the Seventh Squadron, "Abukuma" of Second Cruiser at Osaka Pier. H.M. Battleship "Higo" (29,990 tons) of first Squadron, Second class Cruiser "Abukuma" (5,170 tons) "Yura" and "Natori" (Second Class Cruisers) of the Seventh Squadron arrived in the port of Osaka on their way to their Naval Station Kure, ending the annual Naval Maneuver on Pacific. They are to be in the port till October 7th, Permitting to see the inside of the ships for the citizens. October 5, 1933. (Photo by Shimbun Rengo News Photos Service).

Photograph of British cruiser HMS Intrepid

A port quarter view of the tank landing ship USS NEWPORT (LST 1179). Base: Portsmouth State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Anefo photo collection. Canadian squadron to the Netherlands. October 6, 1950. Canada, the Netherlands

'Le combat du "Rigel" et d'un sous-marin; le "Rigel" vu par le travers : a la hauteur de la premiere cheminee, a babord, breche ouvertepar le premiere torpille du sous-marin allemand', 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII. La Guerre Juillet, Aout, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Decembre 1916". (The fight between the "Rigel" and a submarine; the "Rigel" with breach opened by torpedo of a German submarine)

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Harbour Defence Motor Launch No 1389 leaving harbour at Harwich.

. HMS ARIADNE.

An artist's impression of ***** on the design of which ***** the First Lord of the Admiralty some ***** "something over 10,000 tons and an *****. October 15, 1955.

DN-SN-87-08879. Country: Unknown

DN-SN-87-06047. Subject Operation/Series: BRIGHT STAR Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

Majestic Class Battleships- Hms Jupiter British Battleship JUPITER, 1911.

DDE-450 O'Bannon , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

A port beam view of the mine countermeasures ship USS DEFENDER (MCM 2) underway. Country: Unknown

DN-SN-88-00973. Base: Naval Amphib Base, Little Creek State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Spanish-American War 1898: USS McCulloch, Cruising cutter, firing a warning shot across the bows of the German cruiser Irene, warning her off interfering in Spanish-American conflict. Halftone

HMS WARSPITE bombards enemy positions on the Normandy Coast, 6 June 1944. The 15 inch guns of HMS WARSPITE bombard enemy positions on the Normandy Coast on D-Day. HMS WARSPITE formed part of the escort for the big ships off Le Havre (photographed from the frigate HMS HOLMES).

DD-449 Nicholas , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

A starboard beam view of the surveying ship USNS WILKES (T-AGS-33). Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Aerial starboard bow view of the Russian Northern Fleet Kirov class nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov (CGN-080) underway. Country: Baltic Sea

A bow view of the ships involved in exercise Unitas XX. From left to right, the guided missile destroyer USS DEWEY (DDG-45), the frigates USS JESSE L. BROWN (FF-1089) and USS TRIPPE (FF-1075). Subject Operation/Series: UNITAS XX Base: Cartagena Country: Colombia (COL)

A starboard bow view of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force fleet support ship Tokiwa (AOE-423) preparing to dock. The Tokiwa delivered non-combatant material as part of Japan's contribution to thte coalition effort in Operation Desert Storm.'. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Bahrain (BHR)

The old cruiser Garibaldi struck on July 18 after a brilliant action against the Austrian squad barricated in Kotor, Montenegro, World War I, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLII, No 30, July 25, 1915.

Battleship California Rises To Surface -- The Navy department, in relating the full extent of salvage operations at Pearl Harbor, revealed that, of 19 craft sunk or damaged on December 7, 1941, only three vessels have been written off as lost, and more than 50 percent salvage has been achieved from these ships. This bow-on shot shows the main deck of the battleship California breaking water. She was sunk in the Jap raid on Pearl Harbor, December 7. May 24, 1943. (Photo by Official U.S. Navy Phot

DN-SN-89-05204. Country: Unknown

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC 2-6 R.I. From the tiger brigade depart with the ship Johan van Oldenbarnevelt to the Netherlands. Semarang: For 2-6 RI, the Indian time is on it and per LCT. the battalion was brought to the "Johan van Oldenbarnevelt" on the speech for the return journey to the home country .. April 19, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Semarang

HMS L19 at China station Weihaiwei. HMS L19 was a British L class submarine built by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 18 July 1917 c. 1920

A starboard beam view of the ocean minesweeper USS ADROIT (MSO-509) underway. The ADROIT and three other U.S. Navy minesweepers have been deployed to the gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Unknown

HMS Renown Firing. 1 December 1942. HMS RENOWN firing a 15-inch salvo.

Conte di Cavour battleship, 1911, Italy, drawing.

DN-SN-88-02688. Country: Unknown

Illustration showing the Royal Navy battleship, HMS 'Queen Elizabeth', sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, 1942. Date: 18/04/1942

Free French Use World's Largest Sub At St. Pierre. -- The 2.880. ton "Surcouf" now in the hands of the free French participated in the occupation of the islands recently. The submarine is equipped with a unique deck hangar for a plane and also carries a large ***** artillery piece. January 19, 1942. (Photo by The New York Times Overseas Service).

The American nuclear powered Guided Missile Cruiser USS Bainbridge (CGN 25, 1962) adopts the port of Den Helder in June 1989.

California U.S. Battleship. May 09, 1942.

A hose stretches from the aircraft carrier USS FORRESTAL (CV-59) to the frigate USS ELMER MONTGOMERY (FF-1082) as the MONTGOMERY takes on fuel from the FORRESTAL during the allied forces exercise Team Work '88. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM WORK '88 Country: North Atlantic Ocean

British Battleship London, operating with the Fleet in the Dardanelles, World War I 1915

The amphibious cargo ship USS ST. LOUIS (LKA-116) lies at anchor in the harbor as equipment is loaded prior to the combined South Korean/U.S. exercise Team Spirit '90. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT '90 State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

French military ships Bonnet, Saint-Louis and Jena, participating in the port celebrations in Genoa, Italy, photo by Montabone, from L'illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXII, No 46, November 12, 1905.

HMS Cornwallis broadside Suvla December 1915

Postcard of the Battleship U.S.S. Texas. The U. S. Battleship 'Texas' is 565 feet long, 95 feet 2 1/2 inches wide with a draft of 28 ft. 6 inches. The Armament consists of ten fourteen inch, 21 five inch, an 4 smaller guns under four inches. Complement consists of 63 officers, and 1,009 men, speed is 21.00 knots displacments, 27,000 tons, engines are 28,100 horsepower.

The Polish Navy during the Second World War The Polish Navy submarine ORP Orze (Eagle) returning to her depot ship at Rosyth after taking part in operations off Norway where she accounted for two enemy transport ships. She was lost in the North Sea, probably mined, on 8 June 1940.

Anefo photo collection. British navy ships visit Amsterdam, Diomede and Niaat to the Oosterhandelskade. July 15, 1976. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Naval ships - German Imperial Navy battle cruiser SMS Graf Spee, 1917. Color illustration

U.S.S. Connecticut at sea circa 1916.

T 42 and T43 rocket stand.T 43 (depicted - name)

The battleship magician of the english navy. Old 19th century engraved illustration from La Nature 1890

Port beam view of the Chinese Navy Jiangwei class guided missile frigate Huainan (F-548) at anchor during the Indonesian Navy's naval review of 17-19 August. Country: Java Sea

Artwork: "Four Sisters of Londonderry" Artist: Dwight C. Shepler #97. Country: Unknown

94' ARB , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The ship's company of HMS KING GEORGE V posing on board the battleship.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The aircraft carrier HMS FORMIDABLE exercising with destroyers off Gibraltar, as seen from the battleship RODNEY. The Rock of Gibraltar is in the distance.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Board X Bataljon Infantry (Gadjah Merah) on board ¨Plancius. The "Plancius". January 22, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Padang, Sumatra

Naval ships - France's Marine Nationale turret battleship Bouvet, 1896. Color illustration

USS Arizona; Pearl Harbour after the Japanese attack in World War II 1941

DD-822 Robert H. McCard , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

Aerial recording of ships belonging to Nato StanavForchan (Standing Naval Force in The Channel), including Dutch minesweepers / hunters in May 1989. Here the Belgian tripartite mine hunter BNS Fuchsia (M 919, 1983).

Coast Guard Destroyer SEMMES. This image depicts the Coast Guard Destroyer SEMMES on patrol searching for rum-running vessels.

Naval ships - United States Navy battleship USS Washington, 1940. Color illustration

The Royal Navy during the Second World War HMSM UNISON in the Clyde during her working up trials.

Front page of the Daily Mirror, a British newspaper during the First World War 1915. The headline refers to the sinking of the naval vessel HMS Formidable

Fort Sumter, Charleston S. C. still image. Postcards. 1900 - 1902. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection. Forts & fortifications, Charleston (S.C.), Monuments & memorials, Historic buildings, Fort Sumter (Charleston, S.C.)

French Colonial Troops Invade Elba - French colonial troops leave landing craft near Marina DI Campo, during the invasion of the island of Elba, in the Tyrrhenian sea off the Italian coast. The conquest of the Historic Island, where Napoleon once spent a short-lived exile, was completed June 19. June 20, 1944. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Mighty battleship of the U. S. Navy , Battleships, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States

of 4