An In-Depth Photographic Look at Modern and Preserved Warships

Battleships  Aircraft Carriers  Cruisers Destroyers, Frigates & Escorts   Transports & Merchant Ships  Submarines Museums   Ordnance   Naval Aviation

Check out the Historic Naval Ships Visitors Guide
site for a comprehensive listing of museum ships

Battleships
	USS Texas (BB-35)
	USS Iowa BB61 in September 1986 - On September 24, 1986 the USS Iowa BB61 was visiting the famous Portsmouth Naval Base, United Kingdom, home of HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. Jeff Stevenson was one of the many Brits who visited the ultimate "Fast Battleship" that day.
	USS Missouri (1989) Iowa Class Battleship
	USS New Jersey (1988) Iowa Class Battleship
	USS Massachusetts (BB-59) South Dakota Class Battleship USS Massachusetts Propeller Exhibit- Mark McKellar's photograph of the new exhibit at the Battleship, USS Massachusetts, Museum.
	USS Alabama (BB-60) South Dakota Class Battleship
	USS North Carolina (BB-55)  Fast Battleship
Aircraft Carriers
	USS Constellation CV-64, 2001 Hong Kong, Photographs by Hon Lin, Chiu - Hon Lim, Chiu would like to share his 38 pictures about the retired aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) with CVW-2 that visited Hong Kong in 2001.
	USS Oriskany CV-34, Last of the Essexes - For this Memorial Day, May 30, 2005, the Essex Class aircraft carriers can be remembered, as well as the men that served aboard them. Built in greater numbers than any other fleet carrier, a handful are still left. Four are museum ships but that is not the fate reserved for USS Oriskany CV-34, the last Essex to be completed.
	USS Essex CVA-9, Essex Class Carrier in the Korean War - One of the squadrons assigned to USS Essex CVA-9 during a Korean War tour over the winter of 1952-53 was VF-821, an activated naval reserve squadron based in New Orleans, Louisiana. VF-821 was flying the Panther F9F-2 and one of the squadron members was AE2C Gerald Warneke, who took these photographs. Gerald's son, Jon Warneke, sent in the photographs.
	USS Princeton CV-37, Essex Class Carrier in the Korean War - If you like the Essex Class carrier of the Grumann F9F Panther, you'll appreciate these photographs taken aboard USS Princeton CV-37 during the Korean War. These photos are from the collection of Ted Kauffman, who was the Catapult officer on the Princeton at the time. They were submitted by Alan Roy Millen, Ted Kauffman's son-in-law.
	USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN-69, Nimitz Class Carrier - USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69 was the second ship of the Nimitz Class. The Ike has been recently refitted at the yard at Norfolk Virginia. Charles Landrum went to the base on March 12, 2005 to take a look at the new Ike and took his camera.
	USS Wasp CV/CVS-18, Essex Class Carrier - In August 1970 Jeff Stevenson photographed USS Wasp, CV/CVS-18 in Plymouth Sound, United Kingdom.
	USS Iwo Jima, LHD-7 - Andrew Dunikowski, USN has some great photographs of his ship, the USS Iwo Jima, LHD-7.
	USS Saipan, LHA-2, LCDR Charles Landrum, USN served on USS Saipan from June 1998 to March 2000. He provides a photographic tour from his time aboard, including V-22 Osprey trials.
	USS Constellation CV-64 Kitty Hawk Class
	USS Bonhomme Richard LHD-6 Wasp Class
	USS Hornet CV/CVS-12 Essex Class
Cruisers
	USS Chancellorsville CG-62, San Diego, Photographs by George Silvaney - The Ticonderoga Class, Aegis cruiser USS Chancellorsville CG-62 is shown at San Diego , California . All photographs were taken by George Silvaney.
	USS Shiloh CG-67, Fleet Week at San Francisco 2003, Photographs by John Leyland - In 2003, John Leyland was lucky to have a convention in San Francisco coincide with Fleet Week. He went to the Golden Gate Bridge and got some photos of the procession of ships. This is USS Shiloh CG-67.
	Fleet Week at NYC May 2007, Photographs by Steve Berti - Steve Berti  couldn't have missed Fleet Week May 2007 in New York City, it was right outside his window. Aegis ships were present in force with two Ticonderoga Class guided missile cruisers, two Arleigh Burke Class guided missile destroyers and a guided missile frigate tied up at the former navy station pier on Staten Island. Here are a few photographs he took of those ships.
	USS Horne CG-30, Belknap Class Guided Missile Cruiser - In April 1985 Phil Toy visited the USS Horne CG-30, Belknap Class Guided Missile Cruiser in San Diego, California. Of course there are the overall shots but the majority of these 55 photographs taken of the Horne by Phil are of structure, armament and fittings of special interest to the modeler.
	HMS Tiger & HMS Lion - Get into Jeff Stevenson's "Way-Back" machine and travel to Devonport Naval Base in August 1966 and again in August 1970 to see photographs Jeff took of some of Her Royal Majesty's finest. These are ships whose names have a very fine pedigree, cruisers HMS Tiger, HMS Lion, carrier HMS Ark Royal as well as submarine depot ships HMS Adamant and HMS Tyne.
	Avrora, Russian Protected Cruiser, Museum in Saint Petersburg. Photographs and text by Jean-Paul Binot.
	Georgios Averoff, Greek Armored Cruiser launched in 1910. Photographs from LCDR Charles Landrum, USN.
	USS Olympia Protected Cruiser
	USS Salem (CA-139) Des Moines Class Heavy Cruiser
	USS Antietam (CG 54)  Ticonderoga Class Missile Cruiser
	HMS Belfast Royal Navy Modified Town Class Cruiser
Destroyers, Frigates & Escorts
	HMCS Athabaskan, Canadian Tribal Class Destroyer, NYC Fleet Week 2009 - The HMCS Athabaskan, which is a Tribal Class destroyer, was one of the Royal Canadian Naval ships to visit New York City for Fleet Week 2009.  These photos by Felix Bustelo were taken at the Stapleton Naval Piers, which are on Staten Island in NYC.
	JMSDF Training Squadron, Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 28, 2008 - The Japanese Training Squadron consists of three warships, the 4,050-ton Kashima, 3,550-ton Umigiri and 3,500-ton Asagiri, all powered by gas-turbine engines. An Around-the-World cruise will last from April 15, 2008 to September 18, 2008 and will circumnavigate the planet from west to east. The "Flying Dutchman" Harry van Baal caught up the squadron in Amsterdam on July 20, 2008.
	USS Carney DDG-64, Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 5, 2008 - Bill Stout was at Penn Landing, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, on Saturday July5, 2008 and took a lot of pictures of USS Carney DDG-64.
	HMCS Sackville, Canadian Flower Class Corvette, Halifax, Canada - Photographs sent by Adam Baker - When it comes to warship museum sites of steam powered warships, it is the battleship and fleet aircraft carrier which hog the glory. In any evaluation of the Battle of the Atlantic, it is the diminutive corvette that played a greater role in victory over the U-Boats than either of their huge cousins. The HMCS Sackville is just waiting for you in Halifax.
	USS Barry DDG-52, Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer - Fleet Week, New York City 2004, Felix Bustelo - Those are all of the ingredients you need for Big Fun in the Big City. Our Man About Town and renowned Bon Vivant Felix Bustelo was there, camera in hand, to capture these photographs. Among the ships present was the USS Barry DDG-52, one of the first batch of Aegis Arleigh Burke Class destroyers.
	Neustrashimy, Modern Russian Frigate - Falk Pletscher visited the Neustrashimy during Kiel week in June 1995 and June 2002. Here are some of his superb photographs of this sleek Russian frigate.
	USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" (1797)
	High Endurance US Coast Guard Cutter Rush (WHEC 723)
	HMCS Sackville Flower Class Corvette
	Oliver Hazard Perry class US Navy Missile Frigates
	USS Kidd (DD 661) Fletcher Class Destroyer

	USS Cassin Young (DD 793) Fletcher Class Destroyer
	USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. (DD 850) Gearing FRAM Destroyer
	USS Slater (DE-766) Cannon Class Destroyer Escort (off-site)
Transports, Merchant Ships, and Auxiliaries
	Belgian Navy Minesweeper Lobelia M921 Walk Around - During September 2009 New York City celebrated the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s arrival in what is now New York Harbor .  Hudson ’s ship, the Half Moon, sailed north along what the river that would bear his name. Photographs by Felix Bustelo.
	USS LST-325 - The LST-325 is based in Mobile, Alabama. In the summer of 2003 she voyaged up the Mississippi River on display for the river cities. Kirk Stockett took these photographs when she visited Memphis, Tennessee.
	USCGC Juniper - Many ships visit New York City. This time Felix Bustelo shows us the USCGC Juniper, Seagoing Buoy Tender.
	Ambrose Lightship, Felix Bustelo takes us on another photographic tour of a nautical attraction located in his home town, New York City.
	W.O.Decker, New York City Harbor Tug, Photographic Tour and Text by Felix Bustelo.
	Victory Ship S.S. Red Oak Victory
	Liberty Ship S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien
Submarines
	USS Becuna SS-319, Guppy Conversion - The Navy program to modernize the Gato, Balao and Tench class WWII submarines was given the acronym GUPPY (Greater Underwater Propulsive Power). In addition to removal of deck guns and other protuberances, the conning tower was covered with a streamlined sail structure which housed the snorkel and other masts, and the bow reshaped. Photographs of Becuna at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and text by Tom Dougherty.
	USS Drum SS-228, The First Gato Class Boat - The Gato Class defined the large Fleet Boat for the USN in the Pacific War of World War Two. The first of these boats entered service in November 1941 and that boat was USS Drum SS-228. The Drum also turned in the most successful war patrol in the dark first six months of the Pacific Campaign. Fortunately, the first Gato can still be visited and explored, as USS Drum is located with the battleship, USS Alabama BB60 in Mobile, Alabama, as a museum ship.
	USS Batfish (SS-310) - The USS Batfish is one of the 132 Balao Class Fleet Submarines constructed during World War Two. It is now a museum ship at Muskogee, Oklahoma. Bruce Brotherton took photographs of her in July 2003.
	USS Key West (SSN 722) Los Angeles Class Fast Attack Submarine
	USS Pampanito (SS 383) WW2 Balao Class Fleet Submarine
Museums
	The Great White Fleet Exhibit, Grand Central Station NYC, October 7 through 19, 2008 - As part of the Columbus Day celebrations; (10/7 - 10/19) an exhibition entitled "The Great White Fleet" was held in Vanderbilt Hall in New York City’s Grand Central Station. Although, now gone, John Collier captured the moment.
	National Museum of Naval Aviation, USS Enterprise CV-6, 1:72 Scale - Builders models can be found in many museums. They are normally large pristine, exceptionally well built models, almost invariably in full hull form. The 1:72 scale USS Enterprise at the National Museum of Naval Aviation is different. It is in waterline format, cruising through the blue Pacific. It is weathered, it is dirty, but is teeming with vibrant life. Crewmen are all over, as the ship wakens to the rhythm of a new day of flight operations.
	Central Naval Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia - With over 800,000 artifacts, 2,000 ship models, and the boat built by Peter the Great with his own hands, the Central Naval Museum was established in 1709 as the Model Chamber. Bil Ragan visited the museum and took hundred's of photographs of the models in this great museum.
	Scottish Maritime Museum, HMS Barham, Builder's Model - Craig Walker had a trip to Scotland at Easter 2006 and went to the small Scottish Maritime Museum at Irvine on the Firth of Clyde. He didn't expect it and it wasn't in their brochure but they have a great builder's model of the HMS Barham built by John Brown, Clydebank.
	Musée de la Marine- Jean-Paul Binot offers an unique opportunity to see the exquisitely crafted warship replicas of the Musée de la Marine of Paris, France. The models of French warships from World War Two to the Present are covered in this article.
Ordnance
	Spanish 5.5-Inch Secondary Gun from the Armored Cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa, by Nathan Bartlett - You can find odd bits of history scattered here and there. Nathan Bartlett found such a bit in Ottumwa, Iowa after hearing a rumor that some of the ordinance salvaged from the hulks of the Spanish fleet was displayed on the town square. The 5.5-Inch secondary gun was salvaged from the Infanta Maria Teresa was removed at some point and displayed in Ottumwa.
	Bofors Twin 40mm Gun Mount - Here is a twin 40mm Bofors gun, which, at the time, was located at a VFW hall outside of Pueblo, Colorado. Photographs are by Cal Cochran.
	CSS Alabama, Deck Gun -  If you visit this major French port, you can see one of the cannon of the CSS Alabama on display in Cherbourg. Jacques Druel, that shining knight of Normandy and proprietor of L'Arsenal took these photographs of the cannon raised from the wreck.
	Pearl Harbor Battleship Guns - At the Washington Navy Yard Museum, Rick Davis ran across two interesting pieces of ordnance. Both the deck mounted 3-inch/50 HA AA gun and the casemate mounted 5-inch/51 LA gun were carried by the ships of the battleline at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
	Maxim Nordenfelt Model 1891 3 Pdr QF - The 3 Pdr QF, quick fire, gun designed to combat steam powered torpedo boats was as common at the start of the 20th century as the Oerlikon or Bofors were during World War Two. While in New Hampshire, David Piper ran across this Maxim Nordenfelt Model 1891 3 Pdr QF.
Naval Aviation
	Curtiss F7C-1 Seahawk, Fighter - Curtiss chose to use the new Wasp radial engine for their next fighter design for the navy after their in-line engine used for the F6C. This new design was the Curtiss F7C-1 Seahawk. The Seahawk also featured fuel tanks on each side of the fuselage.
	Curtiss F6C-1 Hawk, 1925 Fighter/Dive Bomber - The most famous line of aircraft for the Curtiss Aircraft Company were called the "Hawks" in that the different models ended in Hawk. The F6C Hawk was ordered by the USN in March 1925, the same month in which the navy's first aircraft carrier, USS Langley CV-1, first participated in fleet exercises.
	Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk, Dirigible Parasite Fighter - One of the oddball aircraft found at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola NAS is the Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk. Only eight of these miniature fighters were built. Designed to be small in size and light weight, the aircraft would be assigned four each to the dirigibles USS Macon and USS Akron.
	USS Akron, Parasite Fighter Dirigible - Built under license from the German Zeppelin Company, the Akron took her maiden flight September 2, 1931 but she had less than two years of life. Although immune to fire, the USN zeppelins were still very vulnerable to the great structural forces exerted by storms. This large scale model is an exhibit at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola NAS.
	Chance Vought F7U-3M "Cutlass" Jet Fighter - For anyone who grew up in the 1950s, one of the most memorable aircraft was the Chance Vought F7U "Cutlass". With its bat like shape and futuristic design, it seemed the very epitome of an advanced naval fighter. Every model company worth its salt had a version of the fighter and they also appeared as deck candy on carrier kits such as the Revell modernized USS Essex. However, all was not as it seemed. In the days before fly by wire and computers, the Cutlass was a difficult beast to fly and fully one fourth of the aircraft of the production run were lost in accidents. Fortunately the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola Naval Air Station has a copy of this interesting aircraft.
	Grumman FF-1 "Fifi" Two Place Carrier Fighter - In 1931 Leroy Grumman decided to design a two place carrier fighter for competition for a USN contract. His design the FF-1 "Fifi" was selected as the first USN carrier aircraft with retractable landing gear. This is the first of the long and noble line of Grumman designs to serve in the United States Navy. The National Museum of Naval Aviation has the only FF-1 in existence.
	Grumman F3F-2 Fighter - In March 1935 Grumman Aircraft Engineering Company produced its third design for the USN, the biplane fighter designated the F3F (Fighter 3rd Design Grumman). The second variant, the F3F-2 was considered the finest fighter that the USN had at that time. A total of 162 fighters in three variants were built from the F3F design. The National Museum of Naval Aviation has one of the 81 F3F-2 fighters that were built.
	Navy-Curtiss NC-4 Flying Boat - In 1918 the USN and the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company collaborated on the design of large flyboats designed to protect convoys from U-Boats. The design did not enter operations until after the end of World War One. Four of the aircraft were built. In May 1919 three of them took off in an attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Two were forced down but the last built NC-4 became the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic, flying first from Newfoundland to the Azores and then from the Azores to Portugal. The NC-4 is still in existence at the National Museum of Naval Aviation.