Select Page

Navy General Board

Home of Naval History and News

Welcome to the home page of the Navy General Board website! This is your portal to all things navy, whether it be current events or historical topics. You can find a wide range of news stories or historical articles on the website. You can also connect with fellow readers on the website forum.

We are working on creating the world’s greatest military website and eventually the world’s greatest military museum. We welcome you to join us on this incredible journey!

History Articles

Navy General Board was created to help share all aspects of naval history from throughout the ages. Here you will find our collection of history articles. It has come a long way and has something for everyone. Take your time and browse them all!

High resolution photos of HMS Hood in Wellington, 1924

In November 1923 a British squadron led by HMS Hood embarked on a world tour that took in key elements of Britain’s far-flung Empire and a range of Britain’s main trading partners. It was in many respects a repeat of the 1913 world tour by HMS New Zealand,[1]...

Stories from the Navy with Fred Dufault

In our first ever interview for our stories from the navy series, we sit down with Fred Dufault. Retiring a Master Chief in 1975 with a navy career spanning 21 years behind him, Fred has seen a great many things. He has been kind enough to chat with me and share some...

HMS Collingwood and the ‘Admirals’– shining lights in the Royal Navy’s ‘dark ages’?

During the early 1880s, Britain laid down six battleships of the Admiral class in several distinct sub-classes, all but one bearing the names of prominent admirals from the Royal Navy’s long history. The prototype was HMS Collingwood, a heavy warship laid down in 1880...

What was the Best Light Cruiser? : Main Guns

After the success of the posts examining which battleships had the best anti-surface firepower and anti-aircraft firepower, I wanted to change things up! In this post, we will examine the guns of light cruisers, determining what was the best light cruiser gun of the...

What the Second London Naval Treaty ‘escalator clause’ Really Meant

One of the common misconceptions in naval history is the idea that the so-called 'escalator clause' of the Second London Naval Treaty - which allowed main gun calibre to automatically revert to 16-inch if any signatory failed to ratify the treaty - also enabled agreed...

The All Big Gun Race

Before we start a quick explanation on the all big gun race.  I have deliberately  avoided of the use of the term "Dreadnought" before the date of her launched, as it was a term not in use before that day. Instead I have used the name Fisher created, "Untakeable" I...

The loss of Prince of Wales and Repulse, Part 2: the air attack

At 5.35 pm on 8 December 1941 the battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse, with supporting destroyers, left Singapore to attack a Japanese seaborne invasion force that was landing in Malaya. By the early afternoon of 10 December, both ships had been sunk,...

Kongo Class : A Gallery

The Kongo class were one of Japan's primary capital ships during both World Wars. Initially laid down as the Kongo class battlecruisers, the ships were upgraded throughout their lives, eventually evolving into the Kongo class battleships and then further developed...

German Aircraft Carrier Of World War 1

By 1919 the Great War had dragged on for five long blood-soaked years. Even with the USA havingjoined the Allies in 1917, victory had been elusive for any of the combatants. For the two years that hadfollowed that declaration, a flood of war materials had poured from...

Warship Terminology: Naval Gunnery Dispersion for Dummies

I wanted to talk about a term that is often tossed around when talking about naval gunnery but is not completely understood. Since It had also been a while since we had a technical article, I think the time has come to discuss the topic of naval gunnery dispersion....

Were the ‘Admirals’ Britain’s first class of battleships?

In an earlier article we explored the story of HMS Collingwood, a British battleship that the Royal Navy’s Director of Naval Construction, Nathaniel Barbaby, sketched in 1880 and which was detailed by his assistant, William White.[1] Collingwood was soon followed by...

Sea Miner: A Civil War Rocket Torpedo

An article by Author Chuck Veit The torpedo launched perfectly, and ran “hot, straight, and normal” towards its target, its solidfuel pushing it along at over 130 mph. It took but a second and a half to cover the hundredyards—well within the six hundred yard range...

The Q-ship hero – William Sanders, VC

The story of William Sanders (1883-1917) remains one of the most intriguing personal sea experiences of the First World War. His career, though brief, can best be described as outstanding: in quick succession he won first the Victoria Cross and then the Distinguished...

The origins of ASDIC and underwater submarine detection

One of the major challenges faced by the combatants of both sides during the First World War was finding submarines underwater. The issue was particularly important for the Allies because Germany turned to U-boats as an equaliser. If they could whittle down British...

K Class vs. U.D.1

If you were to be asked what was large, metallic, mechanical and steam powered I would imagine your most likely answer would be that of a steam engine or train. But bizarrely in the late 18th century the "Old Man of Europe" the Ottoman Empire commissioned the British...

News and Current Events

A relatively new addition to the Navy General Board website. While we remain focused on sharing history, we also want to examine naval current events that are occuring across the world. This section is still new, but more articles are coming. 

The Navy’s FFG(X) Program : Foreign and Domestic Options

The Navy has all but admitted that the Littoral Combat Ships are a flop. Therefore, they have started looking at potential ships to fulfill requirements for a new frigate design known as the FFG(X) Program. Make makes things interesting is that this time the US Navy...

Canada’s Next Generation Submarine

My own opinion and hypothesis on what class of submarine could become Canada’s next generation submarine

Why China’s Island Bases are Not a Big Deal

Over the past few years, the media has made a big deal of the artificial island bases that China has built in the South China Sea. Several of these islands are well fortified, featuring harbors, airstrips, and formidable land-based weaponry. Some in the media have...

China’s Newest Warship : The Type 55 Destroyer

At a time when the United States Navy is struggling to determine the future of its Navy, China has been quietly building up its naval forces. The People’s Liberation Army Navy has risen to be the second largest navy in the world by tonnage. It’s not just quantity that...

Want to go a little bit further than simply reading an aritcle? Interesting in writing your own and sharing it with Navy General Board? Check out our about us page for information on becoming a guest writer for the Navy General Board website! We are looking for both historical pieces and current events happening with navies across the World. 

Shares
Share This