← Military & Defence

Naval Vessels in Historical Context

Black and white photos of naval vessels, including battleships and destroyers, engaged in historic military missions on the seas.

A U.S. Marine lighter amphibious resupply cargo vehicle (LARC-V) moves toward the amphibious transport dock USS NASHVILLE (LPD-13). U.S. Marines have been assigned to Lebanon as part of a multinational peacekeeping force following a confrontation between Israeli forces and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Base: Beirut Country: Lebanon (LBN)

Royal Air Force Marine Branch, 1939-1945. Oblique aerial photograph taken during the rescue by an RAF high speed launch of the crew of a US Navy Consolidated Liberator on the day after they were shot down by Junkers Ju 88s in the Bay of Biscay. A 67-ft Thornycroft High Speed Launch, HSL 2641, approaches the dinghies containing the survivors.

Photograph of Nazi warships patrolling the Channel. Dated 1940

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Looking down on the bridge and focsle of HMS KIMBERLEY as she made her way through the lines of landing craft preparing for the invasion of southern France, during an inspection by the Supreme Commander, Mediterranean Command, General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson and the Commander in Chief Allied Mediterranean Fleet, Admiral Sir John Cunningham. General Wilson is on the right and next to him Admiral Sir John Cunningham. All the men have their backs to the camera.

The United States Navy fleet oiler USS Neosho (AO-23) is left burning and slowly sinking after an attack by Imperial Japanese Navy dive bombers on 7 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The snow covered decks of HMS KING GEORGE V on Northern convoy duty. Often the decks were a foot deep in snow. Two of the ships 5.25 inch gun turrets can be seen beyond the sailor looking out to sea.

A view of six of the Mark 7 16-inch/50-caliber guns on the bow of the battleship USS MISSOURI (BB-63), anchored in the foreground, and the hospital ship USNS MERCY (T-AH-19), anchored nearby. The vessels are deployed to the area during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Unknown

A starboard bow view of utility landing craft 1645 (LCU-1645) as it moves toward the beach during exercise Northern Wedding '82. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WEDDING '82 Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Empty shell cases around the two forward 6 inch Mark XXII twin mounting of HMS SHEFFIELD after she had opened fire and sunk the German tanker FRIEDERICH BREME in the North Atlantic.

'La premiere salve du cuirasse russe "Etstafyi" contre les fortifications de Varna', c1915. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII. La Guerre Janvier, Fevrier, Mars, Avril, Mai, Juin 1916".

Image depicts a fleet review showing American military activities during World War One. The photograph was taken on January 29, 1918. The fleet consists of numerous ships, showcasing the naval power of the United States during the war. The official symbol "A.U.C" is visible on the image.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War With waves obscuring most of her hull, HMS ANSON ploughs through heavy sea in the wake of the destroyer ASHANTI, one of her escorts during passing out trials.

First Aid Raid on Darwin. December 21, 1942.

Lst (2) 383 Underway off Bermuda with LCT 31 on deck.

Hr.ms. Karel Doorman (ex hms venerable) (1948-1968), renovated for O.A. Placement of a corner deck (1955-1958). Shooting exercise 40mm Pompom

Anefo photo collection. HR. Ms. "Flores". Dutch flag behind. 1940-1945}

The German Navy in the Second World War The German Type IXA U-boat U-39 about to submerge in the Baltic. U-39 had the dubious distinction of being the first U-boat sunk in the war, when it was depth-charged off the north-west coast of Ireland by Royal Navy destroyers on 14 September 1939, after an unsuccessful attempt to torpedo the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous.

Starboard quarter view of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70). Base: Newport News State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Anefo photo collection. Light cruiser HR. Ms. "Jacob van Heemskerck" .. October 1941. Britain

Aerial starboard view of the Los Angeles class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS SALT LAKE CITY (SSN 716) underway. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Vintage photograph. Corsairs of the marine air reserve zoom in low to strafe enemy positions and close air support exercise during summer training at Cherry point, North Carolina and camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. '100 Class' High Speed Launch HSL 110, which was based at Mersa Matruh, Egypt, for rescue duties, at speed off the North African coast.

Pilot Scrambles ***** -- After his plane veered off the Escort Carrier Altamaha and plunged into the sea and bobbed up after its initial splash, the pilot scrambles out of his gear. He dived clear of the wreckage and was rescued. November 01, 1943. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

The Third undersea vessel to surrender U-1228 glides into Portsmouth NH early dawn of May 17, 1945 while the DE to which she surrendered hovers watchfully in the background , Warships, Submarines, Surrenders. Photographs of the First Naval District

A U.S. Army Air Force North American B-25B Mitchell bomber taking off from the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) during the Doolittle Raid on 18 April 1942

An overhead view of the French frigate COMMANDANT BORY (F-726) underway. Country: Northern Arabian Sea

An EA-6B Prowler aircraft from Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 141 (VAQ-141) takes to the air as it is launched from the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71). The ROOSEVELT is on station in the eastern Mediterranean in support of Operation Provide Comfort, a multinational effort to aid Kurdish refugees in southern Turkey and northern Iraq. Subject Operation/Series: PROVIDE COMFORT Country: Mediterranean Sea(MED)

DN-SN-86-04992. Country: Unknown

CL 145 Roanoke , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

CVA 16 Lexington 19-NN-CVA 16 Lexington-154475 , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

Men and Ships of Britain's Submarine Service. 14 To 25 January 1943, Beirut, Syria. HM SUBMARINE PARTHIAN arriving in Beirut after patrol.

Photograph of the U.S.S. Missouri as It Enters Tokyo Bay for the Surrender Ceremony

Anefo photo collection. Motorporpedo boat Royal Navy Dutch East Indies Patrol. 1940-1942}. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

A Supermarine Seafire being brought up on a lift to the flight deck of HMS Furious. Another aircraft can be seen at the far end of the flight deck, 1944

DD-672 Healy , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

An aerial starboard bow view of the Los Angeles class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS BUFFALO (SSN 715) underway. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Firing practice onboard an Italian dreadnought, Italy, World War I, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLIV, No 9, March 4, 1917.

DN-SN-89-05014. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT 87 Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

PS: Capatin Carlsen Waves from the deck of his listing ship to a plane which flew over him yesterday. January 04 1952. (Photo by Daily Mirror)

Photograph of Cuban Patrol Boat With Refugees Off Anguilla Island. A close-up photo taken from a Coast Guard patrol plane shows a Cuban Navy PT boat on Aug 13, 1963 leaving Anguilla Island, Bahamas. Some of the 19 Cuban refugees forcibly removed from the Island can be seen.

CVA 20 Bennington 19-NN-CVA 20 Bennington-158198 , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The quadruple 14 inch gun turret dwarfs the ratings scrubbing down the decks on the forward part of HMS ANSON after she had arrived at Fleet Anchorage.

Anefo photo collection. Navy Navy Anefo London series. Bridge submarine hr. Ms. "O 19" trial run. 1944

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.

Hunter on time ...

The Allied Landings in Italy, September 1943- Reggio, Taranto and Salerno Taranto, 9 September 1943 (Operation Slapstick): Italian lighters and tugs help to unload Allied ships in Taranto harbour.

An Aircraft Carrier - A "Walrus" landing on the carrier. The deck officer signals with his bats to tell the pilot to fly higher or lower. In this case he is telling him to come down a bit. October 13, 1955. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

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.

Kaiser Karl I. When the funeral of the Gross Admiral Anton Haus in Pola, 10.2.1917 Grossadmiral Haus died on his flagship Viribus Unitis on 8.2.1917

Illustration showing the Royal Navy battle-cruiser 'Hood' shown in heavy weather. In 1919 she was the largest and most costly warship ever built

U.S.S. Neosho Leaves Berth Virtually Surrounded by Stricken Ships

AE-22 Mauna Kea , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

A direct hit-one of the 14 which stopped the vessel dead. (For main caption see print 24541 A.C.)

Piled high below and above decks with vital supplies for the Yanks of Gloucester, LSTs of the United States Coast Guard and Navy plow through the waters of the Vitiaz Strait on the vital supply lanes from Cape Sudest, New Guinea to Cape Gloucester

Onslow Bay....A starboard beam view of the patrol combatant missile hydrofoil USS Gemini (PHM-6) underway off Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., during the joint services exercise Solid Shield '89. (Substandard image). Subject Operation/Series: SOLID SHIELD '89 Base: Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The Royal Navy during the Second World War HMS STALKER at anchor at Greenock.

DN-SN-87-06849. Country: Unknown

Submarines and Submarine Officers. 4 February 1943, Malta. A torpedo being recovered by HMS THUNDERBOLT after firing during tests.

Photograph of Burial at Sea on USS Santee".

DN-SN-88-10155. Country: Unknown

A vertical view of the Iranian replenishment oiler KHARG underway. Country: Unknown

CVA 20 Bennington 19-NN-CVA 20 Bennington-142188 , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The dense smoke screen being laid from HMS MAURITIUS at sea, as seen from the cruiser's bridge. Note the radar partially visible in the bottom right hand corner of the image.

S61-02826 (21 July 1961) --- A U.S. Marine Corps helicopter attempts an unsuccessful recovery of the Mercury-Redstone 4 "Liberty Bell 7" spacecraft. The spacecraft hatch opened prematurely, and astronaut Virgil I. Grissom, pilot, escaped into the water. The helicopter hooked onto the spacecraft but could not retrieve it. Grissom was recovered by another helicopter and flown to the recovery ship, USS Randolph. The Mercury spacecraft sank to the bottom of the ocean.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Shells from the cruiser MAURITIUS and other HM ships can be seen in the distance exploding on the shore at the height of the fighting during the landings at Salerno. The cruiser played a big part in the operations off the enemy coast during the landings.

On Board the Destroyer HMS Cossack during Torpedo and Anti-submarine Exercises. 1940. Captain Vian (in centre) on the bridge during exercises.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A flotilla of Germans fleeing from the 1st and 8th Armies, found nearly twenty miles out to sea off Cape Bon, Tunisia, and rounded up by the Royal Navy. All the prisoners are German and all except two are anti-aircraft gunners who were bombed out of their gun sites.

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

The U.S.S. Arizona Burning -- With her guns protruding just above the water line, the U.S.S. Arizona burns as she settles to the bottom of pearl harbor after the Japanese aerial attack on Pearl harbor, Hawaii, December 7. This is an official U.S. Navy picture. February 2, 1942. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Toledo, 1936. Civil war, one of the last attacks by the militiamen on the castle of Toledo, sheltered behind a tank.

A striking view taken from H.M.S. Superb showing a line of Dreadnoughts; a good example of Great Britain's naval power in the run-up to World War I. Date: July 18th, 1914

Photograph of Jerry D. Dunford during the Rescue of LCDR Thomas Tucker. Jerry D. Dunford stands watch by his machine gun as the helicopter approaches the USS Towers (DDG-9). The rescued pilot Lieutenant Commander Thomas Tucker was dropped on the USS Towers for a physical examination before returning to his ship the USS Oriskany (CVA-31).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The latest 20 mm Oerlikon gun on board HMS HERMIONE, showing a naval gunner utilising the rubber shoulder rests for high-angle firing. Note the Thornycroft depth charge thrower Mark II and depth charge launching rail in the background.

British Navy. November 06, 1944.

CA 139 Salem , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

Anefo photo collection. Bombers above a ship bowl. 1940-1945}

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A Fairey Swordfish from the aircraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL returns at low level over the sea after making a torpedo attack on the German battleship BISMARCK.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The fire producing thick clouds of black smoke as seen from the destroyer HMS LEGION, during the expedition to the Lofoten islands, Norway, where troops were landed to blow up the oil tanks.

DN-SN-89-04950. Base: USS Missouri (BB 63)

North Africa Pix - Carthage. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

This photo dates to September 5, 1923. The caption reads: Seven Minutes after Noon. In 1922, the U.S. War Department classified the Virginia as a target ship for bombing tests, along with her sister ship the USS New Jersey. The New Jersey was bombed first and sunk and then the Virginia noon.

Anefo photo collection. Zierikzee. Marvo submarine. August 19, 1948. Zeeland, Zierikzee

A bow view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS HOUSTON (SSN-713) underway. Base: Newport News State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

On September 19, the Marijnen cabinet (1963-1965) will sail with the aircraft camp hr.ms. Karel Doorman (R 81) (1948-1968) (Ex- HMS Venerable 1945-1948) van den Helder to Rotterdam. Upon arrival in Rotterdam, where it will be moored at the Parkkade, behind the submarine hunters, the crew stops according to parade roller.

Naval photograph documenting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii which initiated US participation in World War II. Navy's caption: The battleship USS ARIZONA sinking after being hit by Japanese air attack on Dec. 7,1941., 12/07/1941.

DD-763 William C. Lawe , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

A missile is launched from the Aegis weapons system aboard the Aegis guided missile cruiser USS YORKTOWN (CG-48) during at-sea testing. Country: Unknown

Officers and crewmen on the starboard bridge wing of the amphibious command ship USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19) observe an underway replenishment with the fleet oiler USNS WALTER S. DIEHL (T-AO-193). Country: South China Sea

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A Fairey Barracuda flying low over the stern of HMS ONSLAUGHT during a raid in northern waters. One of the ships 4.7 inch guns can be seen in the foreground.

U.S. Carrier-Based Planes Blast - Japanese Fleet Unites In Home Waters -- Bombs from U.S. carrier-based planes drop on Japanese ships and docks at Kure, Honshu, important naval base on Japan's Inland Sea during an attack, on March 18, 1945, against the enemy fleet in its home waters. Other American carrier-based planes struck at the great Japanese industrial city of Kobe, also on Honshu, on the same day, in their second major strike in two days at the heart of the Japanese homeland. The U.S. planes destroyed or damaged 731 Japanese planes, damaged at least 15 warships, including one battleship and two air-craft carriers; damaged seven freighters and sunk six others in the attacks. May 11, 1945. (Photo by U.S. Office War Information Picture).

DN-SN-88-00790. Base: USS Nassau (LHA 4)

World war two: Admiral Graf Spee was a Deutschland-class heavy cruiser with the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany during World War II. On 18 December 1939 the ship was scuttled on orders from the caprtain to prevent capture by british forces

Japanese Battleship Musashi taken from the bow (August 1942): Its Post-Treaty Battleship. Leadship Yamato laid down on 4 November 1937, and Musashi laid down on 29 March 1938. Displacement is 69,000 tons, main guns are 9 × 460 mm

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal Command A convoy in 'northern waters', seen from a No 240 Squadron Saro London, late 1939.

The aircraft carrier USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) passes Point Loma as it heads out to sea. The INDEPENDENCE is beginning its journey to U.S. Naval Station, Yokosuka, Japan, where it will relieve the aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY (CV 41) as the Navy's forward-based aircraft carrier. Base: San Diego Bay State: California(CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Anefo photo collection. Seal Klompengeul at Schelphoek. August 21, 1953. Schelphoek, Schouwen-Duiveland

The British Submarine Tactician arriving at Balmoral after exercises in South China sea. September 29, 1955.

DN-SN-87-01782. Subject Operation/Series: CLOSE LOOK Base: Caribbean Sea

of 3