Japanese destroyer Hanzuki (Ship No. 366) 1944-1947 and American DD-934 1947-1948

Akizuki subclass©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Russian Vol'ny former Japanese Matsu-class Shii©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Akizuki-class or B-class destroyer consisting of Akizuki (Project 51), Fuyutsuki (Project 51) and Michitsuki (Project 53) subclasses preceded by Yugumo-class succeeded by Matsu-class. Of the Michitsuki-subclass to be built under the Maru Kyu Programme as Ship No. 366. Laid down by Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 10 February 1944, launched on 10 October 1944, completed on 26 December 1944, decommissioned on 5 October 1945, surrendered to the USA on 29 August 1947, renamed DD-934 and sunk when used as a target off the Goto Islands on 3 February 1948. 

Russian Imperial yacht Polar Star 1890-1960s (1970s)

Scientific American Supplement dated 1 December 1888

Ordered by the Russian emperor Alexander III on 20 May 1888, launched at the Baltic Shipyard on 19 May 1890, commissioned in March 1891, during the First World War lying at Petrograd before she in begun June 1917 was transferred to Helsingfors {Helsinki, Finland] , laid up in reserve in 1920, converted into a floating submarine base in the early 1930s, commissioned on 20 August 1936, reconverted into a floating ship in 1954, target ship for testing anti ship missiles in 1961 and the same year sunk in the Gulf of Riga when struck by a missile. Could be broken up in early 1970s.

British ironclad HMS Edinburgh preparing defence against attacking torpedo boat in 1887

Scientific American Supplement Volume XXV 14 April 1888

The illustration showed the preparations on board of the HMS Edinburgh to defend herself with machine guns and Martin-Henry rifles against an attacking torpedo boat.The Edinburgh was described as “the most powerful vessel now afloat of the British Navy” and in November 1887 commissioned for service in the Mediterranean under the command of captain Henry St Leger Bury Palliser (1839-1907).

Part of Colossus-class ironclads preceded by Ajax-class succeeded by Admiral-class. Ex-Majestic but renamed Edinburg on 16 March 1882. Laid down by Pembroke Dockyard, England on 20 March 1879, launched on 18 March 1882, completed on 8 July 1887, coast guard ship since 1894, converted into a target ship in 1908 and sold to be broken up by Thos W. Ward in 1910.

Japanese destroyer Harutsuki (Ship No. 362) 1943-1947 and Russian Vnezapniy 1947-1949, Oskol 1949-1955, TsL-64 1955-?, PKZ-37 ?-1969

Akizuki subclass©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Russian Vnezapniy appearance 1950s©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Akizuki-class or B-class destroyer consisting of Akizuki (Project 51), Fuyutsuki (Project 51) and Michitsuki (Project 53) subclasses preceded by Yugumo-class succeeded by Matsu-class. Built under the Maru Kyu Programme. Laid down by Sasebo Naval Arsenal on 23 December 1943, launched on 3 August 1944, completed on 5 October 1945, surrendered disarmed to the Soviet Union on 28 August 1947 at Nakhodoka and renamed Vnezapniy, training ship Oskol in 1949, target ship TdL-64 in 1955, described by Jane’s Fighting Ships 1958-1959 edition as worn out, later floating barracks PKZ-37, stricken on 4 June 1969 and broken up. 

Soviet flotillaleaders of the Baltic Fleet not sighted in July 1936 according to report No. 9697 dated 8 February 1937

Leningrad©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item referred to the report of the M/A, Riga, Latvia dealing with the training exercises of the Soviet Baltic Fleet in July 1936 and which was based on a reliable source. It supplemented the report dealing with June 1936 No. 9680-7040. The flotilla leader Leningrad was not seen in July. The anonymous flotilla leader seen in May and June stayed in July at the Marti shipyard.(1)

Note

1. Part of Leningrad-class destroyer leaders succeeded by Tashkent-class. Ordered under the 1st Five Year Oland, laid down by Shipyard 190 (Zhdanov), Leningrad with yard number 450 on 5 November 1932, launched on 17 November 1933, commissioned on 5 December 1936 and finally sunk after she was used as a target ship in May 1963.

Source

National Archive. Record Group 165: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs Series: Security Classified Correspondence and Reports. File Unit. Russia: Navy - MID 2503-16 THRU 2503-265. Roll 1443.

Russian fleet minesweeper (former Japanese W-23 1942-1947) T-29 1947-1948 (target ship TSl-28 1948-1955, PM-61 1955-1986)

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Japanese Ship No. 168. Part of the Japanese W-19 class (Project number 14B) preceded by No. 7-class. Laid down by Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipyard on 5 May 1942, launched on 13 January1943, completed on 31 March 1943, decomissioned on 30 November 1945, surrendered to the Soviet Union on 3 October 1947 but listed on 15 September 1947, commissioned on 3 October 1947, converted into target ship TsL-28 on 5 July 1948, converted into repair vessel PM-61 on 12 March 1955, stricken on 7 March 1986 and broken up. 

Japanese destroyer Hatsuzakura 1944-1947 and Russia frigate Vetrenny 1947-?, Vyrazitel’ny ?-1949 and target sihp TsL-26 1949-1958

Akizuki subclass©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Russian Vol'ny former Japanese Matsu-class Shii©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Former Japanese destroyer Hatsuzakura part of the Matsu- or Type-D class Tachibana-subclass destroyers preceded by Akizuki-class destroyers and Otori-class torpedo boats. Ship No. 5522. Laid down by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on 4 December 1944, launched on 10 February 1945, completed on 18 May 1945, handed over to the Soviet Union at Nakhodka, renamed Vetrenny and within short tim Vyrazitel’ny, converted into a target ship TsL-26 in 1949 and broken up in 1958. Classified in Jane’s Fighting Ships 1950’s as frigates. 

Japanese destroyer Kiri 1944-1947 and Russia frigate Vozrozhdionny 1949-1949, target ship TsL-25 1949-1957 and depot ship OM-65 1957-1969

Akizuki subclass©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Former Japanese Otori-class torpedo boat Kiji in Russian service©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Former Japanese Matsu-class destroyer in Russian service©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com 

Former Japanese destroyer Kiri part of the Matsu- or Type-D class destroyers preceded by Akizuki-class destroyers and Otori-class torpedo boats. Ship No. 5486. Laid down by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on 1 February 1944, launched on 27 May 1944, completed on 14 August 1944, transferred to the Soviet Union at Nakhodka on 29 July 1947, renamed Vozrozhdionny, converted into the target ship TsL-25 in 1949, converted into depot ship OM-65 in 1957 and broken up in 1969. Classified in Jane’s Fighting Ships 1950s as frigates. 

Japanese destroyer Shii 1944-1947 and Russia frigate Vol’ny 1947-1949 and target ship TsL-24 1949-1960

Akizuki subclass©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Russian Vnimatel'ny, former Japanese Otori-class Kiji©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Russian Vol'ny former Japanese Matsu-class Shii©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Former Japanese destroyer Shii part of the Matsu- or Type-D class Tachibana sub-class destroyers preceded by Akizuki-class destroyers and Otori-class torpedo boats. Ship No. 4811. Laid down by Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 18 September 1944, launched on 13 January 1945, completed on 13 March 1945, handed over to the Soviet Union at Nakhodka on 5 July 1947, renamed Vol’ny, converted into target ship TsL-24 in 1949 and broken up in 1960. Classified in Jane’s Fighting Ships mid 1950s as frigate.  

French battleship Courbet 1910-1944

Danton©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Courbet-class©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Courbet after modernizing©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Bretagne-class©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Courbet-class preceded by Danton-class succeeded by Bretagne-class. Ordered on 11 August 1910, laid down by Arsenal de Lorient on 1 September 1910, launched on 23 September 1911, completed on 8 Otcober 1913, commissioned on 19 November 1913, seized by British on 3 July 1940, handed over to the Free French forces, used as anti aircraft battery and accommodation ship, between 9 July 1923-16 April 1924 and January 1927-12 January 1931modernized, disarmed in early 1941, target ship in 1943 and scuttled to be used as breakwater during the landings at Normandy, France (Operation Neptune) on 9 June 1944 and after the end of the Second World War broken up. 

Thais torpedo boat HTMS Trad 1934-

©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Pennant 11. Part of Trad-class preceded by Number 1-class succeeded by Kantang-class. Italian design, in fact a smaller Italian Spica-class. Laid down by Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy on 9 February 1934, launched on 26 October 1935, commissioned on 19 April 1936. Sunk as a target. 

British destroyer leader HMS Bruce 1917-1939

Sistership Malcolm. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Part of Admiralty-type or Scott-class destroyer leader preceded by Thornycroft type leader and succeeded by A- and B-class leaders. Ordered in December 1916, laid down by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, England on 12 May 1917, launched on 26 February 1918, commissioned on 29 May 1918 and sunk as a target off the Isle of Wight on 2 November 1939. 

German battleship Schleswig-Holstein forced muniton dump at Westerplatte, Poland to surrender according to a report of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Stockholm, Sweden, 1929

Diary note dated Friday 8 September 1939. An item reported that to the noon call of the German Department of Navy hardly offered any naval news. The landing force of the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein assisted by an Engineer Battalion and with support of the ship’s guns captured the munition dump at the Westerplatte at 09.50 o’clock. What was left of her garrizon surrendered. The city Gdynia, Poland was still not fallen.(1)

Note

1. Part of Deutschland-class preceded by Braunschweig-class succeeded by Nassau-class, ordered on 11 June 1904, laid down by Germaniawerft, Kiel, Germany on 18 August 1905, launched on 17 December 1906, commissioned on 6 July 1908, decommissioned between 2 May 1917 and 31 January 1926, sunk in a British air attack at Gotenhafen [Gdynia, Poland] in December 1944, scuttled on 21 March 1945, salvaged and beached and used as a target between 1948-1966. Remains nowadays submerged.

Source

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

Dutch cargo steamship Boschdijk or Boschdyk 1922-Second World War

Exhibition Varen voor Vrijheid. Museum Katwijk

Launched by N.V. Industrieële Maatschappij 'De Noord', Alblasserdam, Netherlands with yard number 132 on 21 June 1922, delivered to owner/manager N.V. Nederlandsch-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij 'Holland-Amerika Lijn', Rotterdam, Netherlands on 19 October 1922. set afire durings the battle for the Maasbridges, Rotterdam and burned out on 11 May 1940, towed to Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Netherlands to be broken up by N.V. Holland Scheepswerf en Machinehandel on 16 July 1940, seized by the Germans in April 1942 and sunk in the Baltic when used by the Luftwaffe as target.

American destroyer minelayer USS Ingraham DD-111 1918-1937

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 Union Iron Works, San Francisco, USA on 12 January 1918, launched on 4 July 1918, commissioned on 15 May 1919, reclassified DM-9 on 17 July 1920, decommissioned on 29 June 1922, stricken on 1 December 1936 and sunk as a target off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 23 July 1937. 

Philippine escort vessel ((ex-PCE 891 1942-1948) Pangasinan 1948-2023

Pangasinan. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Former US PCE 842-class patrol craft, in, Philippine naval service Miguel Mlavar-class corvette succeeded by Rizal-class. Laid down by Willamette Iron and Steel Works, Portland, Oregon, USA on 28 October 1942, launched on 24 April 1943, commissioned on 15 June 1944, handed over to the Philippines on 2 July 1948 and sunk as a target on 26 April 2023. 

The condition of the Russian cruisers Bogatyr, Bayan and Admiral Makarov in 1922

Bogatyr-class. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Bajan. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Admiral Makarov. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

The Commissioner of the United States at Riga, Latvia supplied the Secretary of State at Washington, USA on 23 February 1922 more details about the condition of Russian warshipBogatyr (1), Bayan (2) and Admiral Makarov (3) were part of the Cruiser Squadron of the Baltic Fleet. Except for the main armament were all guns removed. Their boilers were in very worse condition.

Notes

1. Part of the Bogatyr-class cruiser of which were 5 planned but 4 completed preceded by Askold succeeded by Novik. Laid down by Vulcan Stettin, Germany with yard number 247 on 22 December 1899, launched on 30 July 1901, commissioned on 30 August 1902, decommissioned and stricken in 1918 and broken up in Germany in 1922.

2. Part of Bajan-class armoured cruisers preceded by Gromoboi and succceeded by Rurik. Building ordered in May 1898, laid down by Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France in March 1899, launched on 12 June 1900, completed in December 1902, sunk at Port Arthur on 9 December 1904, captured by Japan on 1 January 1905, renamed Aso commissioned on 22 August 1905, in service as training ship in 1908, reclassified as minelayer on 1 April 1920, stricken on 1 April 1930 and sunk as a target on 4 August 1937.

3. Part of Bajan-class armoured cruisers preceded by Gromoboi and succceeded by Rurik.Laid down by Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée, La Seyne-sur-Mer, France in April 1905, launched on 28 May 1906, completed in April 1908, decommissioned in 1918 and sold to be broken up in 1922.

Source

Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Russia and the Soviet Union, 1910-29. Naval Affairs, Navy, Navy Vessels: 861.30 .(861.31 Naval Maneuvers; 851.32 Personnel); 861.33 Movements of Navy Vessels; 861.34 Equipment and Supplies): 861.39 - 861.345. Micro film 316 roll 92. 

German battleship Schleswig-Holstein bombing Westerplatte, Poland according to a report of of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

On the Afgesloten IJ off the De Ruijterkade, Amsterdam, Netherlands in October 1934

Source Stadsarchief Amsterdam

Diary note dated Friday 1 September 1939. An item reported that the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein visiting Danzig, Poland bombarded a Polish ammunition dump at Westerplatte (Danzig). On 4 September he wrote that the guard at the Westerplatte munition dump still not surrendered, The German forces stopped with further heavy attacks, probably fearing a detonation of the enorme storage of munition.(1)

Note

1. Part of Deutschland-class preceded by Braunschweig-class succeeded by Nassau-class, ordered on 11 June 1904, laid down by Germanuawerft, Kiel, Germany on 18 August 1905, launched on 17 December 1906, commissioned on 6 July 1908, decommissioned between 2 May 1917 and 31 January 1926, sunk in a British air attack at Gotenhafen [Gdynia, Poland] in December 1944, scuttled on 21 March 1945, salvaged and beached and used as a target between 1948-1966. Remains nowadays submerged.

Source

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

British guided missile frigate HMS Brazen F 91 1978-1996 and Brazilian Bosisio G-48 1994-2017

Mediterranean 1996

Type 22 Frigate/Broadsword-class preceded by Type 21 and succeeded by Type 23 and Brazilian Tamandaré-class. Ordered on 21 October 1977, laid down by Yarrow Shipbuilders on 18 August 1978, launched on 4 March 1980, accepted into service on 11 June 1982, commissioned on 2 July 1982, sold to Brazil on 18 November 1994, commissioned on 30 August 1996, decommissioned on 29 September 2015 and sunk as target in July 2017. MMSI 709360424 and call sign PWBO. 

Japanese cruiser Akashi visited islands in the Japanese Pacific Mandate in 1923-1924

The American Consul at Nagasaki, Japan Henry B. Hitchkock supplied on 20 November 1923 the time table for the Akashi for her intended Pacific cruise to visit the Japanese mandate. Departure Kure Naval Statio, Japan on 19 November, visit Yap 26 November-1 December, Pelew Islands 6-12 December, Angaur 12-15 December, Pelew Islands 26 January-9 January, Yap 10-12 January, Truk 6-14 February, Ponape 20-26 February, Kusaie 28 February-2 March, Jaluit 4-9 March, Ponape 16-22 March, Truk 24 March-2 April, Rota 5-8 April and Saipan arrival on 8 April.(1)

Note

1. Part of Suma-class protected cruisers preceded by Akitsushima succeeded by Takasago, ordered under 1893 Fiscal Year, laid down by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on 6 August 1894, launched on 18 December 1897, completed on 30 March 1899, reclassified as 2nd class coastal defence vessel on 1 September 1921, stricken on 1 April 1928 and sunk as a target on 3 August 1930.

Source

Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records AdministrationSeries: Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Japan. Naval Affairs, Navy, Naval Vessels: 894.30 - 894.304 THRU Naval Affairs, Navy, Naval Vessels: Movements of Naval Vessels: 894.33 - 894.3311f. Microfilm 422 roll 19.