ORP Błyskawica: Poland’s World War II-Era Naval Beast
While often overlooked when it comes to naval warfare, Poland has operated some major machinery on the high seas – including two of the fastest…
World of Warships Presents: The Longest Night of Museums
Join a live tour of naval museums around the world from the comfort of your home! This Sunday (May 18), and for the fifth consecutive…
Experience the Holidays in the Navy with Exclusive Gifts from World of Warships!
You’ve heard of “home for the holidays,” but we think “leading a 40,000-ton US Navy dreadnought battleship into naval combat for the holidays” sounds a…
Operation Catechism: Demise of the German Battleship Tirpitz
When asked about Germany’s best warships during the Second World War, odds are Bismarck and Tirpitz come to mind. These behemoths, with their over 50,000-ton…
USS Mason (DE-529): ‘Eleanor’s Folly’ Helped Break Racial Barriers in the US Navy
When you think of history-defining naval vessels, odds are the USS Mason (DE-529) comes to mind. The Evarts-class destroyer escort served valiantly in the final…
HMS Glowworm (H92) vs Admiral Hipper: A Daring Battle in the North Sea
The HMS Glowworm (H92) may have been lost early in the Second World War, but that doesn’t mean the British destroyer didn’t play an important…
The Touching Ceremonies That Allowed USS Arizona (BB-39) Survivors to Reunite With Their Fallen Shipmates
The USS Arizona (BB-39) was a Pennsylvania-class battleship built for and by the US Navy in the mid-1910s. She was named for the 48th state,…
The US Military Once Built a Japanese Warship in the Middle of the California Desert
Did you know the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) constructed a Japanese warship in the middle of the California desert during the Second World War?…
Over 80 Years After Being Sunk By the Japanese, the ‘Dancing Mouse’ Has Been Found
The wreck of the US Navy destroyer USS Edsall (DD-219), better known as the “Dancing Mouse,” has been identified off the coast of Australia. The…
British Submarine Found 81 Years After Disappearing Without a Trace
A Royal Navy submarine that seemingly vanished without a trace during the Second World War has finally been located off the coast of Greece. HMS…
‘Ghost Ship of the Pacific’ Discovered Off the Coast of California
Over 78 years after she was sunk by the US Navy off the coast of San Francisco, California, the wreck of the USS Stewart (DD-224)…
China’s Newest Nuclear Submarine Sank Earlier This Year, US Officials Confirm
China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) suffered a major blow earlier this year when its newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pier-side. News of the sinking,…
USS Tang (SS-306): The Decorated US Submarine That Was Sunk By Her Own Torpedo
The USS Tang (SS-306) was one of the most effective submarines to serve in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. Over the course…
China Secretly Salvaged a British Submarine From the Ocean Floor and No One Found Out Until Decades Later
In 1931, the British Royal Navy lost one of its long-range submarines, just under two years after the vessel was commissioned. The incident, which saw…
Hundreds of Stunningly Recreated Historical Warships Are Available to Explore for Free in ‘World of Warships’
What naval history enthusiast worth their salt would dare pass up the opportunity to watch USS Missouri (BB-63) fire off a full broadside salvo, stalk…
World War II-Era Shipwrecks Re-Emerge From the Depths of Danube River
World War II-era vessels once operated by the Kriegsmarine have “risen” from the depths of the Danube, in Serbia. The wrecks, which belonged to Germany’s…
USS United States (CVA-58): The Supercarrier That Pitted the US Air Force and Navy Against Each Other
In the early years of the Cold War, the US Navy began looking into the development of “supercarriers” to help defend the nation. What arose…
Famed Fletcher-Class Destroyers to Undergo Major Restoration Work
It appears two World War II-era warships will live to see another day, thanks to two separate efforts to preserve the vessels. The USS The…
Decommissioned Soviet Aircraft Carrier Catches Fire in Chinese River
One of the many Soviet aircraft carriers to wind up in China in the years since the bloc’s collapse has been heavily damaged in a…
Wreck of Royal Navy Warship Torpedoed During WWI Found in ‘Remarkable’ Condition
The long-lost wreck of a British warship lost in the North Sea during the First World War has been discovered off Scotland’s coast. HMS Hawke,…
The USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) is Just One of Three Submarines to Be Named for a Living Person
Jimmy Carter is one of the most beloved US presidents in history. A military man and peanut farmer who later dedicated his life to politics…
The Only Two Japanese Ships Sunk Off the US Coast During World War II Have Been Found
Over 80 years after they were sunk, the only two Japanese ships believed to have been lost immediately off the coast of the United States…
German U-boats Managed to Sink 397 Allied Vessels in Torpedo Junction in Just Six Months
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest engagement of the Second World War, with the Kriegsmarine reigning supreme in the ocean for much of…
There Are Three U-boats Entombed Beneath a Parking Lot in Germany’s Second-Largest City
While it’s not unheard of for wartime sea vessels to be located beneath the earth, it is rare. The most notable instance of this was…
The Wreck of the RMS Titanic Was Found During a Top-Secret Military Operation
The sinking of the RMS Titanic in April 1912 was one of the most tragic maritime disasters in history. As such, the discovery of the…
US Navy Takes Delivery of Destroyer Named for MoH Recipient John Basilone
The US Navy has officially taken delivery of its latest warship, the Flight IIA guided missile destroyer USS John Basilone (DDG-122). The Arleigh Burke-class vessel,…
USS Sachem (SP-192): ‘The Ghost Ship’ That Served in Both World Wars and Now Sits Abandoned in the Wilderness
There are many abandoned ships across the United States, but few have as storied a history as the USS Sachem (SP-192), which also went by…
Volunteers Requesting Help to Save World War II-Era Liberty Ship SS John W. Brown
One of the last remaining operational World War II-era liberty ships is at risk of falling into disrepair and losing its certification from the US…
It’s Illegal for the US Navy to Have Less Than 11 Aircraft Carriers in Its Fleet
The advent of the aircraft carrier forever changed how militaries conduct warfare. Before, aircraft were limited to operations close to shore, but the introduction of…
USS West Virginia (BB-48): The Battleship That Survived Pearl Harbor and Exacted Revenge on America’s Enemies
The USS West Virginia (BB-48) was one of the many American battleships to see action in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. Miraculously…
The Capture of U-505 Helped America Crack the Kriegsmarine’s Ultra-Secretive Code
The capture of U-505 by the US Navy was one of the most secretive events of the Second World War. While on patrol off the…
Wreck of Famed WWII-Era American Submarine USS Harder (SS-257) Discovered In the South China Sea
The wreck of yet another American submarine lost during the Second World War has been located beneath the water’s surface. The USS Harder (SS-257) sunk…
Ukraine Confirms Sinking of Russia’s ‘Last Cruise Missile Carrier’ in Crimea
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has confirmed that at least one Russian vessel was struck during a missile attack on the Crimean…
Medieval-Era Shipwreck Offers New Insight Into the ‘Military Revolution At Sea’
A recent investigation into the wreck of the famed Danish flagship Gribshunden/Griffin has provided new and interesting insight into the evolution of naval warfare during…
10 Photos That Show US Navy Ships During Their Prime and Following Their Retirement
It would be near impossible to list all of the ships that have served under the US Navy over the centuries – so we’re not…
Ukraine Strikes Landing Ship Stolen By Russia During 2014 Annexation of Crimea
Ukraine is celebrating a minor victory after the country’s military struck several Russian Navy vessels in a recent attack. Among the ships to suffer damage…
Wreck of British Warship Sunk in the 18th Century Identified Off the Coast of Florida
Archaeologists with the National Park Service (NPS) have identified the wreck of a centuries-old British warship that was found off the coast of the Florida…
Phantom: The Innovative and Unique Self-Propelled Concrete Tank Vessel
Phantom was the prototype of a self-propelled concrete tank vessel, designed by Vladimir Yourkevich and F.B. Woodworth. A unique concept developed to potentially protect against…
British Royal Navy Claps Back At Claims Branch Will Have to Sell Off HMS Prince of Wales (R09)
The British Royal Navy is clapping back at media reports that the cash-strapped military branch might sell the HMS Prince of Wales (R09). The Queen…
The Tragic Last Stand of the HMS Hood Against Germany’s Prized Battleship Bismarck
The HMS Hood (51), nicknamed the “Mighty Hood,” was the pride of the British Royal Navy, embodying the pinnacle of warship design in the early…
Artifact Recovered from American Destroyer Sunk By the Germans During World War I
Over a century after the USS Jacob Jones (DD-61) was sunk by a German U-boat off the British coast, a bell has been recovered from…
The USS New York (LPD-21) Was Constructed With Steel From the World Trade Center
The USS New York (LPD-21) is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock operated by the US Navy. The fifth vessel in her class, she’s served…
Was Henry Breault Late to His Own Medal of Honor Ceremony?
At the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut, there’s an area reserved for the Submarine Force’s Medal of Honor recipients. Visitors can read…
China’s Newest Aircraft Carrier Undergoing First Round of Sea Trials
Update – 05/02/2024: China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Type 003 Fujian, set out on May 1, 2024, to complete her first set of sea trials.…
Famed 17th-Century Warship Vasa In Need of Saving Once More
One of the most famous warships in Europe requires financial assistance. The vessel in need of repairs, Vasa, is among the most well-known in Sweden,…
Spain’s Newest Submarines Were Delayed Because Someone Put a Decimal In the Wrong Place
When you think of countries at the forefront of submarine development, Spain likely isn’t the first that comes to mind. That’s not to say the…
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71): The ‘Rough Rider’ That’s Seen Continued Action In the Middle East
The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) was the fourth aircraft carrier commissioned as part of the nuclear-powered Nimitz-class. Known by her call sign “Rough Rider” –…
USS Kidd (DDG-100): The Only US Navy Warship That’s Allowed to Fly the Jolly Roger
The USS Kidd (DDG-100) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer currently serving with the US Navy. Named for Rear Adm. Issac C. Kidd, who lost…
HMS Medusa (A353): The Ship That Marked the Way to Omaha Beach in June 1944
The HMS Medusa (A353) – formerly known as the Harbour Motor Defence Launch (HMDL) 1387 – was near Omaha Beach on June 5, 1944, the…
USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78): The World’s Largest and Most Advanced Aircraft Carrier
The largest and most advanced aircraft carrier in existence, the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78) is what the newest generation of warships looks like. With…
Oliver Hazard Perry Shipyard Vying to Become New Home of the USS Halyburton (FFG-40)
If you travel across the United States, it’s likely you will come across the many decommissioned submarines and ships that have been given new life…
Expedition Produces New Images of Shipwrecks from the Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway in June 1942 was a turning point of the War in the Pacific. While the United States lost a handful of…
Piece of Wood Discovered At Garage Sale Is Piece of Sunken USS Maine (1889)
The Washington Post is reporting that preservation efforts have begun on a piece of wooden spar discovered at a garage sale and later confirmed to…
A Panicked Crewman Led to the Loss of 99 British Lives Aboard the HMS Thetis (N25)
The HMS Thetis (N25) was a Group 1 T-class submarine operated by the British Royal Navy. The vessel sank during dive trials in 1939, but…
The Fatal Collision Between the USS Greeneville (SSN-772) and the Japanese Ship Ehime Maru
On February 9, 2001, approximately nine nautical miles south of Oahu, Hawaii, the USS Greeneville (SSN-772) was involved in a collision with Ehime Maru, a…
World War I-Era Shipwrecks Surface During Texas Drought
The Neches River has been plagued by an enduring drought this summer, which has seen water levels drop. This has resulted in a number of…
Götheborg of Sweden: The Replica 1700s Ship That Rescued a Modern-Day Vessel In Distress
Götheborg of Sweden – or Götheborg III – is a seagoing replica of the Swedish East Indiaman Götheborg I, which was launched in 1738. The original ship…
Did This U-boat Sink Herself With One of Her Own Torpedoes?
In the final month of 1943, U-972 went missing at sea. The U-boat had departed for her first patrol in November 1943 and hadn’t run…
Remains of German U-boat SM UC-55 Identified Off the Coast of the Shetland Islands
A team of divers have confirmed the identity of the wreck of a World War I-era German U-boat sunk off the coast of the Shetland…
The United States Once Came to the Aid of North Korea During a Pirate Attack
The Dai Hong Dan Incident occurred on October 29, 2007 in the Indian Ocean. After Somali pirates attacked the North Korean cargo ship MV Dai…
USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14) Recovered the Crew of the Apollo 17 Space Mission
On December 7, 1972, a three-man crew was launched into space on the final mission of NASA‘s Apollo program. For 12 days, they orbited space,…
Search for World War I-Era French Minesweepers Leads to Discovery of 1879 Shipwreck
A number of ships have fallen victim to the wicked weather of the Great Lakes over the centuries. One, the loss of the SS Edmund…
USS Ticonderoga (CV-14): The Aircraft Carrier That Served In Two Wars and Aided In the Apollo Missions
The USS Ticonderoga (CV/CVA/CVS-14) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier built by the US Navy during the Second World War. She was the fourth ship to…
USS Buckley (DE-51): The Destroyer Escort That Took Out a German U-boat With Hand-to-Hand Combat and Grenades
The USS Buckley (DE-51) was a destroyer escort and lead ship of her class that served with the US Navy between 1943-46. During her wartime…
US Navy Identifies Escort Carrier Sunk By Japanese Kamikaze In World War II
The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) has confirmed the location of the wreck of the USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) in the Sulu Sea, off…
The USS Stickleback (SS-415) Was Sunk In a Collision During An Anti-Submarine Exercise
On May 28, 1958, the USS Stickleback (SS-415) became the second US submarine lost since the end of World War II. The Balao-class vessel had…
Royal Navy Submarine Buried Beneath British Park? Experts Say It’s Likely
There’s long been an urban legend surrounding Dartmouth’s Coronation Park, which states a Royal Navy submarine is buried beneath the green space. Residents of the…
Why the US Made the Japanese Surrender Aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63)
On September 2, 1945, the Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allies. Ending hostilities, the Japanese agreed to an unconditional surrender by signing the Instrument…
The USS Triton (SSRN-586) Was the First Vessel to Complete a Submerged Circumnavigation of the World
The Cold War saw the development of nuclear submarines by both the United States and the Soviet Union. One of them was the US Navy’s…
USS California (BB-44): The Battleship That Survived Pearl Harbor and a Kamikaze Strike
The USS California (BB-64) was the second of two Tennessee-class battleships. The vessel saw service throughout World War II, including being targeted by the Japanese…
The Tragic Disappearance and Loss of the Argentine Submarine ARA San Juan (S-42)
In November 2017, the Argentine submarine ARA San Juan (S-42) went missing while returning to her home base at Mar del Plata. It took just…
Four Nuns Were Rescued from Behind Enemy Lines By the USS Nautilus (SS-168)
When war erupted in the Pacific, many found their homes situated in areas of conflict. There were also those who were far away from theirs,…
The US Navy Considered Arming Frigates with Mk 48 Torpedoes During the Cold War
On January 17, 1955, the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) radioed the historic message, “Underway on nuclear power.” This was the foundation of a new era that…
E-boat: The Effective German Fast Attack Boat of the Second World War
The Schnellboot – or S-Boot – was a German fast attack craft that served with the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. It was referred…
Higgins Boat: The Landing Craft That Helped the Allies Win World War II
The landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) – or Higgins boat – was used by the Allies to conduct amphibious operations during the Second World War.…
USS Bennington (CV-20) Paying Respect At the USS Arizona Memorial
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor launched the United States into the Second World War. The assault on December 7, 1941 resulted in the loss…
The Most Impactful Military Vehicles of World War II
In the shadowy chapters of history, battles are often viewed through the prism of generals and troops – their tactics, their bravery and their sacrifices.…
The Kursk Submarine Disaster Claimed the Lives of 118 Russian Sailors
K-141 Kursk was an Oscar II-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine operated by the Russian Navy. Commissioned in December 1994, she represented the peak of the…
The USS Utah (BB-31/AG-16) Was Sunk By the Japanese During the Attack on Pearl Harbor
The USS Utah (BB-31), the second ship in the Florida-class of dreadnoughts, served with the US Navy in various engagements during the first half of…
HMS Sussex (96): The British Heavy Cruiser That Survived a Kamikaze Strike
The British heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (96) was a London sub-class vessel within the Royal Navy’s County-class. Operated by the service between 1929-50, she participated…
The Soviet ‘Hiroshima’ Submarine That Inspired Harrison Ford’s ‘K-19: The Widowmaker’
K-19 was the first submarine of the Soviet Union’s Project 658, the first generation of Soviet nuclear submersibles that carried an armament of nuclear ballistic…
The USS Oriskany Was Purposefully Sunk In the Gulf of Mexico to Form An Artificial Reef
Laid down in the middle of World War II, the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) didn’t see action until after the conflict. She was…
Can You Spot the Finnish Coastal Defense Ship Väinämöinen In This Image?
Camouflage and optical illusions have long been a key part of conflict. Such tactics were heavily used throughout World War II, with examples being the…
Typhoon-Class: The Last of the Famous Soviet Ballistic Missile Submarines Retired In 2023
The Typhoon-class – also known as Project 941 Akula – were six Soviet nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The largest ever constructed, they served with the…
Sunken Remains of German U-boat U-166 In the Depths of the Gulf of Mexico
A total of 23 U-boats were stationed in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II. Over the course of the conflict, they took out…
Malaysia Accuses Chinese Barge of Looting World War II-Era Shipwrecks
The Malaysian Maritime Agency has detained a Chinese barge it accuses of looting two British shipwrecks in the South China Sea. The accusations come after…
HMS Centurion (1911): The British Dreadnought That Saw Action At Jutland and Was Purposefully Sunk After D-Day
The HMS Centurion (1911) was the second of four King George V-class dreadnought battleships. She served with the Royal Navy between 1913-44, seeing action throughout…
USS Recruit (1917): The Wooden Dreadnought In Manhattan’s Union Square
Amid the bustling streets of Manhattan’s Union Square in World War I, an extraordinary sight met passersby. The USS Recruit (1917), a wooden landship constructed…
The Dramatic Arrival of the German U-boat SM U-118 On a British Beach
In the aftermath of the First World War, a remarkable event unfolded in Britain, causing a stir among military and civilian circles: the unexpected arrival…
Cargo from German Ship Sunk During WWII Washing Up On American Beaches
Several tons of cargo went down with German ships that were sunk by enemy action or intentionally scuttled during the Second World War. Rarely, however,…
National Emergency Command Post Afloat: The ‘Floating White Houses’ for Times of Nuclear War
During the 1960s, America’s Continuity of Operations plans included the National Emergency Command Post Afloat (NECPA). It was one of three parts – airborne, ground…
A WWII-Era Mystery for the Ages – What Happened to the French Submarine Surcouf?
Although they weren’t known as a naval superpower, the French still built one of the most impressive submarines of the Second World War. In fact,…
USS Wisconsin (BB-64): The American Battleship That ‘Lost Her Temper’ In Korea
The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was an Iowa-class vessel that served with the US Navy on and off from 1944-91. She was the second-last of her…
Research Team Discovers Wreck of WWII-Era Japanese Ship That Sank With Over 1,000 POWs
The Australian government has announced that the wreck of the Japanese auxiliary ship Montevideo Maru has been located in the South China Sea. The announcement…
Century-Old ‘Experimental’ Submarine Discovered Off the Coast of Long Island
A “experimental” submarine dating back well over a century has been discovered off the coast of Long Island by a team of divers. Known as…
USS Harder (SS-257): The WWII-Era Submarine That Took Out Five Enemy Destroyers In Four Days
The USS Harder (SS-257), a Gato-class submarine, served in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. She was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and…
The History of the US Navy’s Canceled World War II-Era Battleships
The Second World War produced many legendary battleships – Bismarck, HMS Hood (51), Yamato, Roma (1940) and USS Iowa (BB-61). That being said, the conflict…
NR-1: The Smallest Nuclear Submarine In US Military History
Submarines are typically built to house a sizeable crew, given the amount of time they’re expected to serve beneath the ocean’s surface. There was one,…
The 50-Year Battle to Clear Charles McVay III In the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser commissioned by the US Navy in 1932. She was the flagship of Scouting Force 1 prior to the…
The USS Lexington Wreck Was Discovered Over 75 Years After the Battle of the Coral Sea
The sinking of the USS Lexington (CV-2) was one of many to occur during the Second World War, and her wreck has remained on the seafloor…