Japanese battleship design A 49 around 1911-1912

Kawachi-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Design A 49. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Fuso-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Displacement 27.100 tons and as dimensions 570.0 (between perpendiculars) x 93.0 (extreme) x 29.6 feet. Speed 22 (36,200 shp)-23 (43,500 shp) knots. Normal coal bunker 1,200 capacity tons. Armament 5x2-35.56cm/14” 45 cal with 70 rounds each, 12-15.24cm/6” 50 cal, 10-11.9cm/4.7” 40 cal guns. 2-7.62cm/3” short guns and 4-53.34cm/21” submerged torpedo tubes. Armour consisted of a 30.48cm/12” (waterline) belt, a 1 1/8” thick protective deck and barbettes protected by 21.86cm/9”.

Source

Hiraga Archive ID 20260301

Japanese aircraft attacked Allied fleet off New Guinea according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 27 February 1942

An item referred to a statement of the Japanese Imperial Headquarters at Tokyo, Japan reporting that Japanese naval aircraft attacked on 21 February several hundred miles north east of New Guinea an Allied fleet damaging or even possible sinking an aircraft carrier and heavily damaging a second ship.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. MR0423. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 79 dated 27 February 1942

Design German armoured ship E dated 1933

Admiral Graf Spee, Deutschland-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Design D-class heavy cruiser. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Braunschweig. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Hessen as target. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

French battleship Dunkerque. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Gneisenau. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Design P-class heavy cruisers. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Preceded by Deutschland-class succeeded by planned P-class heavy cruisers. Improved version of the Deutschland-class known by the Allies as pocket battleships. Contract awarded to the Reichsmarinewertft, Wilhelmshaven as the Ersatz Hessen (1) on 25 January 1934, laid down on 14 February 1934, decided to modify the design as an answer on the French Dunkerque-class battleships in February 1934, building stopped on 5 July 1934, contract cancelled and replaced by the Scharnhorst-class battleships.

Note

1. Part of the Braunschweig-class pre-dreadnought battleships, built between 1902-1905, converted into a target in 1937, handed over to the Soviet Union on 2 January 1946 and broken up in 1960. 

British submarine HMS Trident attacked German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 25 February 1942

Marinmuseum/DigitaltMuseum

An item reported that the British submarine HMS Trident (1) claimed a possible torpedo hit on the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer (2) lying in the Norwegian Lo Fjord. For the attack would she have to enter the fjord.

Notes

1. N52. Laid down by Cammell Laird&Co. Limited, Birkenhead, England on 12 January 1937, launched on 7 December 1938, commissioned on 1 October 1939 and sold to be broken up on 17 February 1946. Part of T-class preceded by Grampus-class succeeded by U-class.

2. Of the Deutschland-class panzerschiffe later classified as heavy cruisers preceded by the Admiral Hipper-class. Main armament 2x3-28cm/11” guns on fore and aft ship one turret. Laid down by Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven, Germany on 25 June 1931, launched on 1 April 1933, commissioned on 12 November 1934, sunk during an air attack at Kiel, Germany on 9 April 1945, partly broken up and the remains used of filling up the inner part of the dockyard.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. MR0423. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 77 dated 25 February 1942

British anti-submarine frigate HMS Loch Griam (K 621) 1945

River-class ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Loch-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Bay-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Modified River-class hull and improved armament. Of this class were 28 ships built and 54 cancelled. To be built by Swan Hunter. Cancelled in 1945

Sources

Jane’s Fighting Ships 1944-1945

David K. Brown. Nelson to Vanguard. Warship design and development 1923-1945.

David K. Brown. Atlantic Escorts. Ships, Weapons and Tactics in World War II.

J.J.. Colledge/Ben Warlow. Ships of the Royal Navy. The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present.

Norman Friedman. British Destroyers&Frigates/ The Second World War and After.

Leo Marriott. Royal Navy Frigates since 1945. 2nd edition.

G.M. Stephen. British warship designs since 1906.

A.W. Watson. ‘Corvettes and frigates’ in: Transactions of the Institution of Naval Architects, 1947, p. 165-185

Presence of enemy submarines in the Caribbean according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 25 February 1942

An item reported that during the last 24 hours hardly any enemy submarines had been active in the Atlantic. An second item reported that an American destroyer in the Atlantic sighted the day before two torpedo wakes believing there were two enemy submarines present in the vinicity 10.4 North latitude-79.41 West longitude=around 45 miles north north east of the Panama Canal. The J.I.C. commented that there seemed to be 5-6 submarines present in the Caribbean.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. MR0423. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 77 dated 25 February 1942

American destroyer minelayer USS Mahan DD-102 1918-1931

Destroyer of the DD 75-347 type. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Wickes-class light minelayer. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Wickes-class preceded by Caldwell-classs succeeded by Clemson-class divided into Little-subclass, Lamberton-subclass and Tattnall-subclasses. Laid down by Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, USA on 4 May 1918, launched on 4 August 1918, commissioned on 24 October 1918, decommissioned on 1 May in 1920, reclassified as light minelayer DM-7 on 17 July 1920, stricken on 22 October 1930 and sold to be broken up on 17 January 1931. 

Allied aircraft searching for enemy submarines along Surinam and Guiana coasts according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 25 February 1942

An item reported that reconnaissance flights above the coasts of Surinam and French Guinea including interior rivers and inlets between the Maroni river and the Oyapock during the past two days showed no sign of enemy submarines, bases or depot ships. It was strongly believed that both coastlines offered no practicable refugee for submarines.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. MR0423. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 77 dated 25 February 1942

Pakistani seaward defence motor launch (ex-SDML 1263) SDML 3519 1950s

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

HDML type. Formerly known as Harbour Defence Motor Launch, renumbered in 1951. Displacement 46 (standard)-54 (full load) tons and as dimensions 72 (over all) x 15 5/6 x 5 1/3 feet. Diesel propulsion with 2 shafts, horsepower 320 bhp and a speed if 12 knots. Crew numbered 14 men. Armament consisted of 1-3pd gun, 1-2cm anti aircraft gun. 

British merchant steamship Australia hired for the Sudan campaign in 1885

Engaged by the British government for the new expedition to the Soudan. Gross tonnage 3,664 tons. Troop transport.

Due to the despressed state of the shipping trade was the Admiralty able to hire troop transports towards Suakin, Sudan for just 17s 6 ton/month in contrary to the 28s ton/month in the 1882 campaign. The first Suakim expedition was in February 1884, the second one in March 1885. The campaigns were part of the Mahdist War (1881-189) between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Khedivate Egypt later the United Kingdom resulting in the condominium Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 1899-1956 and then succeeded by the Protectorate of Uganda, Italian Libya and the Republic of Sudan, nowadays Egypt, Libya, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. On 26 January 1885 fell Khartoum and the British garrison was massacred. In March was a British expeditionary  force sent to Suakin but lacking success and finally withdrawn.

Source

The Steamship dated 16 February 1885, p. 64. 

Construction status of the German submarine U 2460 in July 1944

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

List of planning with deadlines for new construction of warships by German shipyards in July 1944. Type XXIII. Yard Deutsche Werft, Hamburg (Schiffswerft Linz). Yard number 140. Date building ordered 289 October 1943. Date completion -. Remarks construction by decision of Ob.d.M. for the time being postponed.

Source

Deutsches Historisches Institut Moska. Records 500 findbuch 12453-file 147. 

Taiwanese frigate (ex-BDE-6 1942-1943, USS Wyffels DE-6 1943-1945) Tai Kang 1945-1972

US Everarts-class.  ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

US Buckley-class.  ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Tai Kang. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Former American Evarts-class destroyer escort succeeded by Buckley-class. Ordered as BDE-6, laid down by Boston Navy Yard on 17 October 1942, launched on 7 December 1942, reclassified as DE-6 on 25 January 1943, renamed Wyffels on 19 February 1943, commissioned on 15 April 1943, decommissioned and handed over to the Republic of China on 28 August 1945, renamed Tai Kang, stricken from the uS Navy List on 12 March and sold to be broken up in 1972. 

British transport Kangaroo hired for the Abyssinian expedition in 1867

According to a letter dated Admiralty, Somerset House 6th September of the Director of Transport Services W.R. Mends to the Under Secretary of State for India was the iron screw steam transport Kangaroo. Number transport 6. Tonnage 1,719 tons. Horsepower 350hp. Rate per ton per month. If discharged at home 3266d and abroad 45s0d. Date of acceptance 30 August. Likely to sail early next week.

The British Abyssinian Expedition found place between 4 December 1867-13 May 1868 against the Ethiopian Empire or Abyssinia to release the imprisoned missionaries and representatives of the British government.

Source

Accounts and papers: thirty-five volumes. Army. Abyssinian expedition. Session 19 November 1867-31 July 1868. Vol. XLIII., p. 115.

Construction status of the German kriegsfischkutter KFK 429 in 1944

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

List of planning with deadlines for new construction of warships dated Berlin 22 May 1944. Built by St. Pieter, Hemixen [Hemiksem]/Antwerpen, Belgium. Yard number 51. Date building ordered3 October 1942. Date completion unknown depends on delivery propulsion allowing a future maximum completion of 5-7 Kriegsfischkutters possible.

Source

Deutsches Historisches Institut Moska. Records 500 findbuch 12453-file 152. 

Hired British ship Riverdale for French expedition to Madagascar in 1895

With the First Madagascar Expedition (May 1883-December 1885) started the Franco-Hova War. In December 1885 was a Treaty signed which the French interpreted as being a Protectorate Treaty which was denied by Queen Ranavalona III. The result was the Second Madagascar Expedition December 1894-1 October 1895) ending in Madagascar becoming a French colony (1897-1958). The Malagasy Republic was an autonomous French territory until she became independent as the Democatric Republic of Madagascar in 1975. 

Supplied by Messrs. Tatham, Bromage&Co., contractors for freightage of river material to Mojanga. Departed from Port Said on 11 April. Loaded with 24 shallow river boats.

Source

Captain Pasfield Oliver, “The Madagascar expedition”: The United Service Magazine, volume XI. New Series. April 1895 to September 1895, p. 136-137.

British destroyer HMS Sabrina 1915-1926

Sister ship Truculent, Yarrow Later M- class destroyer©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Preceded by Yarrow M-class. Despite lacking geared steam turbines sometime described as Yarrow R-class destroyers. Ordered in July 1915, laid down by Yarrow Shipbuilders, Scotland in November 1915, launched on 24 July 1916, completed in September 1916 and sold to be broken up on 5 November 1926. 

German Admiral Saalwächter appointed as Gruppen Befehlshaber West according to a report of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Diary note dated Saturday 9 September 1939. An item reported that admiral Saalwachter (1) recently assigned as Gruppen Befehlshaber West. Saalwachter was responsible for all naval and coast defence operations in the North Sea comparable to the duties of admiral Albrecht Gruppen Befelhlshaber Ost.(2) The Commander in Chief of the Fleet could be placed under his command for certain tasks. Admiral Raeder which was Chief of Naval Operations was to decide.

Notes

1. Alfred Saalwächter (10 January 1883 Neusalz an der Oder, German Empire-6 December 1945 Moscow, Soviet Union), served in the navy 1901-1942 ending as generaladmiral, replaced as Gruppen Befehlshaber West on 20 September 1942 and resigned from active service on 30 November 1942.

2. Conrad Albrecht (7 October 1880 Bremen, Germany-18 August 1969 Hamburg, Germany), served in the navy between 1899-1939 ending as general admiral, retired on 31 December 1939.

3. Erich Johann Albert Raeder (24 April 1876 Wandsbek, Germany 6 November 1960 Kiel, Germany), head of the German Naval Command 1 October 1928-1 June 1935 and chief of the German Navy High Command 1 June 1935-30 January 1943

Source

National Archives. FDR Presidential Library&Museum Roosevelt PSFC000175. War diary Naval Attaché Berlin, volume 1 (1 September 1939-26 May 1940)

Dutch shrimp cutter (ex-SC58 Thor 2005-2014, Noor Catharina (YE-6) 2014-2025) Maarten Senior UK-214 2025-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 16 September 2026

Call sign DIRS/PCZC (as Noor Catharina and Maarten Senior). Casco built at the Malbo Yard Wroclaw, Poland and completed at the Scheepswerf Welgelegen, Lauwersoog in 2003 . Bought by Yske Nienhuis and to be commissioned as the ZK3, registered as the SC58 Thor of Ahnfelft&Kock OHG, Büsum, Germany in 2005 and since 2014 as Noor Catharina (YE06) of VOF van der Endt, Yerseke, Netherlands. MMSI 244615490.

American whaler Ohio cleared at Honolulu, Hawaii according to the newspaper The Polynesian dated 15 January 1853

An item reported that at Honolulu, Hawaii on 3 January was cleared the American whaler Ohio master Norton for cruising and back home 

American whaler Phoenix cleared at Laihana, Hawaii according to the newspaper The Polynesian dated 18 December 1852

An item reported that at Laihana, Hawaii on 6 December was cleared the American whaler Phoenix master Bellows for cruising 

Dutch shrimps cutter (ex-Limanda 1973-2009) Ben Oni UK 53 2009-2016) Geertruida (YE-238) 2016-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 16 September 2026

Netherlands-flagged, IMO 8432730, MMSI 244328000 and call sign PFOW. Ex-Limanda renamed 2009 Benoni. Built at Scheepswerf De Klerk, Walsoorden, Netherlands in 1973. Sold by Kobus Post, Urk, Netherlands in October 2016 to A., M. en N. Sinke, Yerseke, Netherlands.

Auction at Amsterdam, Netherlands of the Dutch whaler De Pieter in 1759

Auction at the Nieuwezyds Heeren Loogement, Amsterdam, Netherlands on Monday 22 October 1759 at 18:00 o’clock of the Dutch whaler De Pieter, extra ordinary well sailing fluyt, commandeur Jacob Teunisz Root, built in 1722 and as dimensions 116 1/3 x 30.10 x 12.8½, verdeck 6.9½ and stuurplecht 8.9½ Amsterdam feet. Sold for 6.200 Dutch guilders to Nicolaas Anthony van Hoorn representing Nicolaes de Mijn.

Source

Archief van de Burgemeesters: scheepsverkopingen door makelaars. Archive 5071 Gemeentearchief Amsterdam, Netherlands archive No. 5071, inventory number 22.

British trawler Admiral Blake PH 440 1989-

Schelde off Vlissingen, Netherlands 19-3-2026

England-flagged, homeport Plymouth, IMO 8816041, MMSI 235002830 and call sign MHRP6. Built by Scheepswerf Friesland, Lemmer, Netherlands in 1989. 

Australian whaler Nimrod arrived in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand according to the Australian newspaper The Sydney Gazette and New South Eales Advertiser dated Saturday 25 May 1839

An item referred to a list of arivals and departured at the Bay of Islands between 26 February-2 May reporting the arrival of the Australian whaler Nimrod, Bennett of Sydney, sundries on 10 March. Departed for the River Thames on 1 April. 

Dutch fishery research vessel Isis 1983-

Scheveningen, Netherlands 10 March 2026

Netherlands-flagged, homeport Scheveningen, IMO 8318180, MMSI 244767000 and call sign PBXD. Built by Damen Shipyard Hardinxveld, Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands in 1983. Also called a fish farm support vessel. Owned by Rijksrederij/Rijkswaterstaat.

Australian whaler Proteus arrived in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand according to the Australian newspaper The Sydney Gazette and New South Eales Advertiser dated Saturday 25 May 1839

Fishermen in boats have been attacking a whale but one boat is upset and a man is falling out. Coloured engraving by F. Duncan after W.J. Huggins 1834

An item referred to a list of arivals and departured at the Bay of Islands between 26 February-2 May reporting the arrival of the Australian whaler Proteus, Fowler of Sydney, Fowler, 11 months, 1,100 barrels sperm oil on 5 March. Departed for cruising on 30 March. 

Construction status of the German kriegsfischkutter KFK 428 in 1944

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

List of planning with deadlines for new construction of warships dated Berlin 22 May 1944. Built by St. Pieter, Hemixen [Hemiksem]/Antwerpen, Belgium. Yard number 50. Date building ordered3 October 1942. Date completion unknown depends on delivery propulsion allowing a future maximum completion of 5-7 Kriegsfischkutters possible.

Source

Deutsches Historisches Institut Moska. Records 500 findbuch 12453-file 152. 

Deed of chartering for Dutch Greenland whaler Prins Frederick in 1662

Deed of chartering dated 1 March 1662 by Adryaen Solderwaeghe with master Isbrant Cornelis Gort for the ship Prins Frederick for a waling voyage to Greenland and to return afterwards at Rotterdam to be unloaded payment 2,050 guilders and 6 guilders each whale.

Source

Stadsarchief Rotterdam. Notary Vitus Mustelius Woutersz 18-515-121

Malaysian corvette KD Lekir FFG 26 1983-

Royal Australian Navy 125 Anniversary International Fleet Review at Sydney, Australia March 2026

Clinton J Down Photography, Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia

Thanks for allowing us to republish

Malaysia-flagged, MMSI 533000026 and call sign 9MOT. Part of Kasturi-class based on the FS 1500 design preceded by Laksamana-class. Ordered in February 1981 or on 10 June 1981, laid down by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel, Germany on 31 January 1983, launched on 14 May 1983 and commissioned on 15 August 1984. 

Ships of the British Mediterranean Fleet arriving at Malta on August 1927

HMS Warspite. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Revenge-class battleships. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Queen Elizabeth-class battleships. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

HMS Eagle. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

C-class Caroline subclass light cruisers. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Sketch of Vice Admiral Sir Roger Keyes (1872–1945), KCB, CMG, CVO, DSO, by the British painter Glyn Warren Philpot, 1918. 

Courtesy of the collection of the Imperial War Museums.

The American consulate at Valetta, Malta wrote on 18 August 1927 to the US Secretary of State that the same day at Malta ships of the British Mediterranean Fleet namely: the battleships HMS Warspite (Queen Elizabeth-class), flagship of admiral Sir Roger Keyes, Barham (Queen Elizbath-class) flagship of vice-admiral John D. Kelly, Royal Sovereign (Revenge-class), flagship of rear admiral D.T. Morris, Malaya and Valiant (both Queen Elizabeth-class), cruisers Cardiff (C-class Ceres subclass), flagship of rear admiral L.G. Preston, Concord (C-class Centaur subclass) and Ceres (C-class Ceres subclass), the aircraft carrier Eagle, the repair ship Assistance, the depot ships Sandhurst and Cyclops, the cruiser Conquest (C-class Caroline sub-class) with the Captain (S) and 1st Submarine Flotillas (less L 21 already here); the cruiser Coventry (C-class Ceres subclass)with rear admiral Hon. H. Meade, and the First, Second and Fourth Destroyer Flotillas (less Wakeful), the drifters Eddy, Sunset, Crescent Moon, Landfall, the despatch vessel Bryony and the monitor Medusa.

Source

National Archives. Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration Series: Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Great Britain. Naval Affairs, Navy, Navy Vessels: 841.315 THRU 841.31553 THRU Naval Affairs, Navy, Navy Vessels: Movement of Naval Vessels: 841.33 - 841.3311/64. Microcopy 580 roll 92.