Ship Profiles - Notable Warships
While navies have sailed the world's oceans since before ancient Greece, some ships stand out for their technological advances, notable records in combat, or ill-fated demises. Find out more about some of these unique vessels.
Napoleonic Wars: HMS Victory
HMS Victory was first commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1778. A 104-gun ship of the line, HMS Victory was present at many of the key naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars and is best remembered as Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. Retired from active service in 1812, HMS Victory was used for a variety of purposes before being restored as a museum ship.
HMS Victory was first commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1778. A 104-gun ship of the line, HMS Victory was present at many of the key naval battles of the Napoleonic Wars and is best remembered as Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. Retired from active service in 1812, HMS Victory was used for a variety of purposes before being restored as a museum ship.
War of 1812: USS United States
USS United States was one of the original six frigates built for the new US Navy. Launched in 1797, USS United States saw service during the Quasi-War and won a victory over HMS Macedonian in the War of 1812. Remaining in service, USS United States saw active duty until 1849 and was finally broken up in the 1860s.
USS United States was one of the original six frigates built for the new US Navy. Launched in 1797, USS United States saw service during the Quasi-War and won a victory over HMS Macedonian in the War of 1812. Remaining in service, USS United States saw active duty until 1849 and was finally broken up in the 1860s.
American Civil War: USS Constellation - The End of an Era
USS Constellation is the last all-sail warship built for the US Navy and the last naval vessel active during the Civil War still afloat. Best known for its work fighting the slave trade, USS Constellation is now preserved as a museum in Baltimore, MD.
USS Constellation is the last all-sail warship built for the US Navy and the last naval vessel active during the Civil War still afloat. Best known for its work fighting the slave trade, USS Constellation is now preserved as a museum in Baltimore, MD.
First Ironclads: HMS Warrior
HMS Warrior was the first iron-hulled, armored warship built for the Royal Navy. Built at London, HMS Warrior immediately made every warship in the world obselete. In addition, Warrior laid the foundation for the naval arms race that would dominate the next half century.
HMS Warrior was the first iron-hulled, armored warship built for the Royal Navy. Built at London, HMS Warrior immediately made every warship in the world obselete. In addition, Warrior laid the foundation for the naval arms race that would dominate the next half century.
World War I: HMS Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought entered service in 1906 and immediately rendered existing battleships obsolete. The first to feature an "all big gun" design, HMS Dreadnought also was the first to be powered by steam turbines making it faster than previous battleships. The launching of HMS Dreadnought ignited a naval arms race between Britain and Germany that climaxed with World War I.
HMS Dreadnought entered service in 1906 and immediately rendered existing battleships obsolete. The first to feature an "all big gun" design, HMS Dreadnought also was the first to be powered by steam turbines making it faster than previous battleships. The launching of HMS Dreadnought ignited a naval arms race between Britain and Germany that climaxed with World War I.
World War I & II: HMS Warspite
Launched in 1913, the battleship HMS Warspite saw extensive service during both world wars. A Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, Warspite fought at Jutland in 1916. After an extensive modernization in 1935, Warspite fought in the Mediterranean and Indian Oceans during World War II and provided support during the Normandy landings.
Launched in 1913, the battleship HMS Warspite saw extensive service during both world wars. A Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, Warspite fought at Jutland in 1916. After an extensive modernization in 1935, Warspite fought in the Mediterranean and Indian Oceans during World War II and provided support during the Normandy landings.
Naval Aviation: USS Langley - First US Aircraft Carrier
USS Langley was the first aircraft carrier to see service with the US Navy. Converted from a collier in 1922, Langley conducted a wide variety of aviation testing and sailed with both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. Modified into a seaplane tender in 1936, Langley was sunk by the Japanese in 1942.
USS Langley was the first aircraft carrier to see service with the US Navy. Converted from a collier in 1922, Langley conducted a wide variety of aviation testing and sailed with both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. Modified into a seaplane tender in 1936, Langley was sunk by the Japanese in 1942.
Cold War: USS Nautilus - First Nuclear Submarine
USS Nautilus was the world's first nuclear-powered submarine and was the first to make a submerged transit of the North Pole. Commissioned in 1954, USS Nautilus remained in the fleet until 1980. It is currently docked at Groton, CT as a museum ship.
USS Nautilus was the world's first nuclear-powered submarine and was the first to make a submerged transit of the North Pole. Commissioned in 1954, USS Nautilus remained in the fleet until 1980. It is currently docked at Groton, CT as a museum ship.
Pearl Harbor: The US Navy's Home in the Pacific
The homeport of the US Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor was first acquired by the United States in 1887. Slow to develop due to its shallow entrance channel, Pearl Harbor became the US Navy’s premier base in the Pacific in the years prior to World War II. Attacked on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor rose from the ashes and supported the US Pacific Fleet throughout the war.
The homeport of the US Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor was first acquired by the United States in 1887. Slow to develop due to its shallow entrance channel, Pearl Harbor became the US Navy’s premier base in the Pacific in the years prior to World War II. Attacked on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor rose from the ashes and supported the US Pacific Fleet throughout the war.
USS Hornet (CV-8)
A history of the famous aircraft carrier USS Hornet from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
A history of the famous aircraft carrier USS Hornet from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
Photo Tour of USS Olympia
Built at San Francisco (1891), USS Olympia served as Commodore George Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. This site provides photo tour of the ship which is moored at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.
Built at San Francisco (1891), USS Olympia served as Commodore George Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. This site provides photo tour of the ship which is moored at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.
HMS Hood (1920)
A brief history of the battlecruiser HMS Hood which was sunk on May 24, 1941 by the German battleship Bismarck.
A brief history of the battlecruiser HMS Hood which was sunk on May 24, 1941 by the German battleship Bismarck.