# --- Russian

g5_NAME                    Torpedo boat G-5
g5_INFO                    \n    Torpedo boat G-5\n\nSpeed: 50 knots\nArmament: two torpedoes of 533 mm caliber, two machine-guns, four mines.\nDisplacement: 14.5 tons\nPower of two petrol engines: 1,700 HP\nProduced till 1944 in different modifications.\nTotal number produced: over 200 units.\n\nThe order to design the first speed-boat for river flotillas in the USSR was received in 1920. And, as early as the following summer, the Moscow river saw test trials of the GANT-1 - a planing boat with 1 ton displacement and a 160 HP engine capable of traveling at up to 75 km/h. The first model was followed by new modernized modifications. \n\nOn June 29 1928, it was decided to develop a new and better launch with two domestically-produced engines and two torpedo-tubes marked G-5 (planing boat #5). A year later, on June 13 1929, construction of the GANT-5 prototype started. Completed GANT-5 launches were sent to Sebastopol on February 15 1933 and the trials dragged on into the last days of December. The trials proved the G-5 to be the best adopted torpedo boat, and serial production was launched.\n\nAbout 200 G-5 torpedo boats were produced. \n\n

bbk42_NAME                 BBK-1/rocket turret
bbk42_INFO                 \n    BBK-1 Patrol Boat/Gun Boat with rocket turret M-13-M1\n\nSpeed: 21 knots\nCitadel and crew compartment armor: 5-8 mm.\nArmament: 76 mm gun in the turret of T-28 tank, M-13-M1 mounting for launching 16 missiles of 132 mm caliber, two 12.7 machine-guns. \nDisplacement: 47.3 tons\nPower of two petrol engines: 1,700 HP\n\nThe job of creating armored launches equipped with missile mountings started in January 1942. The Navy command ordered the industry to create launcher mountings from land battle vehicles BM-8 and EM-13. It turned out, however, that the ships needed mountings with a large horizontal turning angle. Land Katushas were pointed in an approximate fashion at the target with a turn of the vehicle, but one could not rely on this method when an armored launch was moving along a narrow waterway. This prompted the development of superstructure mounting M-13-M1, which was intended for launching 16 missiles of 132 mm caliber. Missiles were fired by the commander from the crew compartment and salvo from eight flange beams took 5 to 8 seconds. The M-13-M1 was only installed on large armored launches.\n\n

bbk43_NAME                 BBK-1/T-34-76 turrets
bbk43_INFO                 \n    BBK-1 Patrol Boat/Gun Boat, project series 1124\n\nSpeed: 21 knots.\nCitadel and crew compartment armor: 5-8 mm.\nArmament: two 76 mm guns in the turret of T-34 tank, two 12.7 machine-guns.\nDisplacement: 47.3 tons.\nPower of two petrol engines: 1,700 HP\n\nThe need for launches armed with 76 mm guns and anti-bullet armor became apparent as early as 1929 during an armed conflict on the Chinese-Eastern railway. But the first such design was only commissioned at the end of 1934. The naval forces wanted to have a two-turret artillery launch with anti-bullet armor. It was initially planned to arm armored launches with 45 mm guns in the turrets of T-26 tank. Later on, they were replaced by short-barreled mountain 76 mm guns in the turrets of T-28 and T-35 tanks which were at that time adopted by the Red Army. Such solutions made it possible to provide launches with ammo direct from army warehouses. Tank turrets had a gun elevation angle of a mere 26 degrees, which excluded the possibility of firing at aircraft; machine-guns were mounted for combating enemy aviation. After the successful completion of test trials, the armored launch was put into serial production. In the course of production it went through a number of modifications, the most essential of which was the replacement of turrets from T-28 and T-35 tanks with those from T-34 with 76 mm guns.\n\nBy the beginning of the Second World War, the Soviet Navy had 85 launches of both types and another 68 were under construction. \n\n

type7_NAME                 Destroyer type 7
type7_INFO                 \n    Destroyer type 7, "Razumniy" \n    Type 7 Flotilla Leader\n\nApart from a few Dreadnoughts, the destroyer of the "Razumniy" ("reasonable") type was one of the largest ships in the Soviet Navy at the time of the Second World War. It was armed with four 130  mm B-13 guns, two 12.7 mm Colt machine-guns (later replaced by DShK machine-guns), two 76 mm 34K guns, four 37 mm K-37 machine guns and two 12.7 mm DShK machine-guns (different production series had different machine-gun equipment). The ship was also equipped with torpedo-tubes and devices for dropping anti-submarines bombs. \n\n

transp_NAME                Minesweeper
transp_INFO                \n    Minesweeper\n\nSpeed: 21 knots. \nArmament: 100 mm caliber gun, 45 mm caliber gun, 37 mm caliber gun, 40 mines.\nDisplacement: 450 tons\nDiesel engine power: 3,000 HP\n\nThe first surface ship completely designed and constructed by the Soviet shipbuilding industry was a trawl-class minesweeper which entered service in 1934. This construction and maintenance experience served as a basis for developing more powerful and fully-equipped trawlers which started shipping to the Navy from 1942 on. Trawl-class minesweepers were created "right from the draft", as designers put it - the trials of leading and serial ships brought no unpleasant surprises and revealed no drawbacks or blunders. As a result, construction was quick to get under way in small shipbuilding plants.\n\nDuring the Second World War, the range of this type of ship in battle was significantly extended. Apart from their main task of clearing mines from waterways, Soviet minesweepers were also used to lay mine barriers, conduct anti-submarine operations, escort troops and civilians, land troops in the enemy rear and support them with artillery fire.\n

aurora_NAME                Aurora Cruiser
aurora_INFO                \nLength: 126.7 m.\nBeam: 16.8 m.\nAverage draught: 6.2 m\nDisplacement: 6731 tons\nSpeed: 20 knots\nPower of engines: 11,971 HP\nArmament:  10 x 130 mm, 4 x 76 mm, 3 x 45 mm , 3 torpedo tubes\n\nThe cruiser of the first rank Aurora entered into service on July 29, 1903. On May 14-15, 1905, this ship participated in a battle in the Japanese sea (Tsusima). On November 7, 1917 at 09:45, a signal from the nose gun was given to commence the attack of the Winter Palace. This shot was effectively the signal for the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia. From the autumn of 1918 onwards, the Aurora was kept in conservation in an inner harbor of Kronstadt. At the beginning of the summer of 1923, the Aurora cruiser was again put into service in the Baltic fleet as a training ship.\nDuring the period of the Leningrad blockade from 1941-1944, the Aurora was located in the port of Oranienbaum. The cruiser had received considerable damage from systematic fire and bombardments by German aviation. It took on a considerable amount of water, and in September 27, 1941 sat on the ground. In July 1944, the cruiser had been raised from the ground and was put into repair.\nFrom 1948 to 1956, the Aurora cruiser was used as a training base.\nIn 1956, the Aurora became the branch of a Central Naval museum of Leningrad.\n\n

kirov_NAME                 Kirov Cruiser
kirov_INFO                 \nSpeed: 36 knots\nRange: 3,750 miles\nDisplacement: 9,436 tons\nLength (total): 191 m\nBeam: 17.7 m\nEngine power: 113,000 HP\nCrew: 724\nArmor:\nBelt - 50 mm\nDeck  - 50 mm\nTurrets - 75/50 mm\nWeapons:\n  3 \u0445 3 180 mm MK-3-180\n  6 \u0445 1 45 mm 21-K\n  6 \u0445 1 100 mm B-34\n  4 \u0445 1 12.7 mm DShK\n  2,533 mm 3-tube torpedo launchers\n  2 KOR-1 sea planes.\n\n\nThe ship was built in November 1936. In September 1938, it was commissioned to the Soviet Fleet. Six "Kirov" type cruisers were built (2 project 26 and 4 project 26bis). The "Kirov" faced war at Riga's harbor. On August 1, the ship was sent to Tallin's base. On August 29, it was moved to the Kronstadt base. Up until September 21, the Kirov was involved in anti-aircraft defense of  Kronshtadt, was damaged and relocated to Leningrad, on the Neva river. In the spring of 1942, the Axis tried once more to destroy it by combined artillery and aircraft attacks. The ship again suffered a small amount of damage, and was subsequently relocated and better camouflaged. An old training ship was positioned in its old place (and was immediately sunk by the Axis, who were sure they had sunk the "Kirov", whereupon attacks subsequently ceased). The Cruiser was repaired, upgraded and put into action in June 1944 on the "Mannergeim's line" in the direction of Vyborg. The ship ended its duty in 1974 as a USSR NAVY Cruiser.\n\n

tashkent_NAME              Destroyer \u00ABTashkent\u00BB
tashkent_INFO              \nDestroyer \u00ABTashkent\u00BB\n\nDisplacement:\nStandard: 2,893 t\nFull: 3,216 t\nDimensions:\nOverall length: 139,8 m\nWidth at widest point: 13,7 m\nEngines: 2 x Yarrow boilers\n   2 x SR steam turbines\nMax speed: 43,5 kts\nRange: 4,000 NM @ 20 kts\nCrew: 250 men\nArmament:\n6 x 130mm B-13 guns in three turrets\n6 x 37mm AAA machine guns\n6 x 12.7mm DShK machine guns\n2 x 76mm AA turret\n3 x Triple 533mm torpedo tubes\nUp to 110 mines\n\nThe Tashkent was designed and built for the Soviet government in Italy by the Odero-Terni-Orlando company in Livorno. \nKeel was laid on January 11, 1937, and the ship was launched on December 27th of the same year. Entered service with the Soviet Navy (VMF USSR) on April 18th, 1939. At the Marti factories in Nikolaev the ship was temporarily armed with three single 130mm B-13 guns. Tashkent received her final armament of six B-13s in June of 1941, just a few days before the German invasion. During the same time the ships 45mm flak cannons were replaced with 37mm machine guns. In August of 1941 the ship also received a turreted twin 76mm AA gun, which was taken off an unfinished destroyer Ognevoy.\nDuring the next year of the war the ship served with the Black Sea Navy. She served as an escort on 17 transport convoys, and was used as a transport herself, transporting 19,300 men and 2,538 tons of cargo during the defense of Sevastopol and Odessa. Tashkents crew claimed 9 enemy planes damaged and 4 destroyed, sunk one torpedo boat, and fired barrages at ground targets on over 100 occasions. \nOn June 26th, 1941 as Tashkent was returning from Odessa with hundreds of refugees on board, she was dive bombed by German aircraft and heavily damaged. On July 2nd, 1942 at around 12 pm she was attacked by around 30 German bombers as she was moored in a Novorossiysk harbor. Tashkent received two direct hits and partially sank in the shallow waters. Out of 344 men on board 76 were killed and 77 wounded. The ship was only raised in 1944 after liberation of Novorossiysk. Investigation showed that the ship was too damaged to be restored, and after the war the Tashkent was salvaged for spare parts. \n\n

marat_NAME                 Marat Battle Ship
marat_INFO                 \nSpeed: 22.9 knots\nRange: 2,310 miles. \nDisplacement: 26,184 tons \nLength (total): 184 m\nEngines: 61,000 HP\nCrew: 1,286.\nArmor:\nBelt - 125225 mm\nDeck  - 2537.5 mm\nTurrets - 245/100 mm\nWeapons:\n  4 \u0445 3 305 mm MK-3-12\n  14 \u0445 1 120 mm\n  6 \u0445 1 76.2 mm 34-K\n  6 \u0445 1 37 mm 70-K\n  13 \u0445 1 12.7 mm DShK\n4 underwater 450-mm torpedo tubes\n\n\nThe ship was built in August 1911 under the name "Petropavlovsk". In March 1921, it was renamed the "Marat". It was upgraded in 1931. The Marat was involved in the Soviet-Finnish war. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it participated in Leningrad's defense, where it took some damage from several ship bomb explosions. It was subsequently sent to Kronstadt for repair. In Kronstadt, the "Marat" was used for anti-aircraft defense against numerous air attacks. After the 13th massive air attack (from some 40 dive-bombers) on the morning of September 23, 1941, it was hit by 500-kg and 1000-kg bombs to the nose at the same time (the strike was by Hans-Ulrich Rudel). The explosions caused a huge detonation of ammo stored in the nose that destroyed the whole nose part of the ship and the nose superstructure. The ship took on around 1000 tons of water and touched the ground. 326 people died. The AAA guns at the stern continued anti-aircraft defense. That day, the ship fired 1,002 76.2-mm cannon rounds, 528 37-mm rounds and 6,584 12.7-mm rounds. In late October 1941, 2 stern turrets was repaired and the ship was used as a floating artillery battery up until January 1944. The 120-mm cannons were removed and sent to frontlines for ground battles.\n\n

tramp_NAME                 Cargo ship
tramp_INFO                 \nSpeed: 12 knots\nDisplacement: ~3,500 tons\nLength: ~110 meters\nWidth: ~15 meters\nDraft: ~6 meters\nEngine:\nCrew:\n\nMerchant ships like these were used to carry a wide assortment of goods. Sometimes they even doubled as troop transporters. This is a medium-sized type, often traveling in coastal sea lanes.\nOccasionally these vessels were armed with light guns for self protection.\n\n

shuka_NAME                 Pike Submarine (Sch Type)
shuka_INFO                 \nLength: 57 m.\nBeam: 6.4 m.\nDraught: 3.8 m\nDisplacement: \n594 tons (surfaced)\n700 tons (submerged)\nSpeed: \n14.8 knots (surfaced)\n8 knots (submerged)\nEngine power: \n1,370 HP (surfaced)\n800 HP (submerged)\nRange: \n5,250 miles (surfaced)\n150 miles (submerged)\nTorpedoes: \n10\n4/2 (bow/stern tubes)\nDeck gun: 2x45 mm\nMax depth: 90 m\nCrew: 39 men\n\nIn 1930, the Soviet Union started to build a series III of middle-displacement submarines. Based on the name of a lead ship entering into service in October 1933, all of these submarines were subsequently referred to as Pikes". "Pikes" were built in several series. A total 6 series of 86 units were built. During the war, "Pikes" were the most-used submarines in the Soviet fleet.\n\n


USSLexingtonCV2_NAME       USS Lexington CV2
USSLexingtonCV2_INFO       \nLexington Class Carriers\n\nDisplacement (std): 36,000 tons\nCrew: 3,300\nPower Plant: 16 x 300-psi boilers; turbo electric \nScrews: 4 \nArmament 4 x twin 8-inch\n12 x 5-inch guns \n\nLexington (CV 2)\nLaunched: 10/3/1925\nCommissioned: 12/14/1927\nSunk: Sea 8 May 1942 (battle damage, scuttled)\n\nSaratoga (CV 3)\nLaunched:  4/7/1925\nCommissioned: 11/16/1927\nSunk: 25 Jul 1946 (atomic bomb tests)\n\nThe original USS Lexington was ordered in 1917 and laid down as a Lexington-class Battle Cruiser CC-1. It was named after the events of April 19, 1775, when the Minutemen fighting British troops at Lexington, MA, opening the Revolutionary War. Three previous US warships also had this name.\n\nHowever in February of 1922 construction was suspended, and it was decided to convert the CC-1 to an aircraft carrier, which was redesignated CV-2. Another of the Lexington-class Battle Cruisers, CC-3 Saratoga, was also converted to an aircraft carrier in the same order, redesignated CV-3. For almost the next 20 years CV-2 and CV-3 were the main carriers of the US carrier force, the other two operational carriers being much smaller and slower.\n\nCV-2 was fatally damaged by Japanese aircraft in the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8th, 1942. She was scuttled by USS Phelps the same day and sank.\n\nCV-3 survived many close calls during the war only to be used as a stationary target in 1946 atomic bomb tests at Bikini atoll.\n\n\n
USSSaratogaCV3_NAME        USS Saratoga CV3
USSSaratogaCV3_INFO        \nLexington Class Carriers\n\nDisplacement (std): 36,000 tons\nCrew: 3,300\nPower Plant: 16 x 300-psi boilers; turbo electric \nScrews: 4 \nArmament 4 x twin 8-inch\n12 x 5-inch guns \n\nLexington (CV 2)\nLaunched: 10/3/1925\nCommissioned: 12/14/1927\nSunk: Sea 8 May 1942 (battle damage, scuttled)\n\nSaratoga (CV 3)\nLaunched:  4/7/1925\nCommissioned: 11/16/1927\nSunk: 25 Jul 1946 (atomic bomb tests)\n\nThe original USS Lexington was ordered in 1917 and laid down as a Lexington-class Battle Cruiser CC-1. It was named after the events of April 19, 1775, when the Minutemen fighting British troops at Lexington, MA, opening the Revolutionary War. Three previous US warships also had this name.\n\nHowever in February of 1922 construction was suspended, and it was decided to convert the CC-1 to an aircraft carrier, which was redesignated CV-2. Another of the Lexington-class Battle Cruisers, CC-3 Saratoga, was also converted to an aircraft carrier in the same order, redesignated CV-3. For almost the next 20 years CV-2 and CV-3 were the main carriers of the US carrier force, the other two operational carriers being much smaller and slower.\n\nCV-2 was fatally damaged by Japanese aircraft in the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8th, 1942. She was scuttled by USS Phelps the same day and sank.\n\nCV-3 survived many close calls during the war only to be used as a stationary target in 1946 atomic bomb tests at Bikini atoll.\n\n\n
USSEssexCV9_NAME           USS Essex CV9
USSEssexCV9_INFO           \nEssex Class Carriers (Short Hull)\n\nDisplacement 43,600 tons \nCrew: up to 3,448\nSpeed 33 knots\nArmament 8 x 5/38 DP\n12-14 x Dual 3/50 AA [SCB 27A]\n\nEssex (CV 9)\nLaunched: 31 July, 1942\t\nCommissioned: 31 December, 1942\nDecommissioned: 30 June, 1969\n\nYorktown (CV 10)\nLaunched: 21 January, 1943\nCommissioned: 15 April, 1943\nDecommissioned: 27 June, 1970\n\nIntrepid (CV 11)\nLaunched: 26 April, 1943\nCommissioned: 16 August, 1943\nDecommissioned: 15 March, 1974\n\nHornet (CV 12)\nLaunched: 30 August, 1943\nCommissioned: 29 November, 1943\nDecommissioned: 26 June, 1970\n\nFranklin (CV 13)\nLaunched:  14 October, 1943\nCommissioned: 31 January, 1944\nDecommissioned: 17 February, 1947\n\nLexington (CV 16)\nLaunched: 23 September, 1942\nCommissioned: 17 February, 1943\nDecommissioned: 8 November, 1991\n\nBunker Hill (CV 17)\nLaunched: 7 December, 1942\nCommissioned: 24 May, 1943\nDecommissioned: 9 July, 1947\n\nWasp (CV 18)\nLaunched: 17 August, 1943\nCommissioned: 24 November, 1943\nDecommissioned: 1 July, 1972\n\nBennington (CV 20)\nLaunched: 16 February, 1944\nCommissioned: 6 August, 1944\nDecommissioned: 15 January, 1970\n\nBon Homme Richard (CV 31)\nLaunched:  29 April, 1944\nCommissioned: 26 November, 1944\nDecommissioned: 2 July, 1971\n\nThe Essex class carriers are by far the most important carrier class of WWII, with no less than 32 carriers of the class ordered. Only 26 were completed however, and the remaining 4 were cancelled before being laid down in March of 1945 as it became clear the war would be won without them; 2 more were scapped on August 12th of 1945 after Japan surrendered. \nMany Essex carriers remained in service long after WWII, the last of them, USS Lexington (CV-16) retiring in 1991  fifty years and four months after it was laid down!\nThere were two distinct sub-versions of the Essex class: short hull (described here) long hull (AKA Ticonderoga). Short Hull Essexes were themselves a modified version of Yorktown class. The Long Hull Essex class was started in 1943, when it became clear that short hull Essex didnt have enough room for ample anti-aircraft weaponry.\nOriginal 1940 plans did not call for the Essex class to enter service until 1940, but the construction was sped up due to war, and by late 1943 the Essex carriers were the mainstay of US carrier force in the Pacific. They remained such until the end of the war.\n\n\n
USSIntrepidCV11_NAME       USS Intrepid CV11
USSIntrepidCV11_INFO       \nEssex Class Carriers (Short Hull)\n\nDisplacement 43,600 tons \nCrew: up to 3,448\nSpeed 33 knots\nArmament 8 x 5/38 DP\n12-14 x Dual 3/50 AA [SCB 27A]\n\nEssex (CV 9)\nLaunched: 31 July, 1942\t\nCommissioned: 31 December, 1942\nDecommissioned: 30 June, 1969\n\nYorktown (CV 10)\nLaunched: 21 January, 1943\nCommissioned: 15 April, 1943\nDecommissioned: 27 June, 1970\n\nIntrepid (CV 11)\nLaunched: 26 April, 1943\nCommissioned: 16 August, 1943\nDecommissioned: 15 March, 1974\n\nHornet (CV 12)\nLaunched: 30 August, 1943\nCommissioned: 29 November, 1943\nDecommissioned: 26 June, 1970\n\nFranklin (CV 13)\nLaunched:  14 October, 1943\nCommissioned: 31 January, 1944\nDecommissioned: 17 February, 1947\n\nLexington (CV 16)\nLaunched: 23 September, 1942\nCommissioned: 17 February, 1943\nDecommissioned: 8 November, 1991\n\nBunker Hill (CV 17)\nLaunched: 7 December, 1942\nCommissioned: 24 May, 1943\nDecommissioned: 9 July, 1947\n\nWasp (CV 18)\nLaunched: 17 August, 1943\nCommissioned: 24 November, 1943\nDecommissioned: 1 July, 1972\n\nBennington (CV 20)\nLaunched: 16 February, 1944\nCommissioned: 6 August, 1944\nDecommissioned: 15 January, 1970\n\nBon Homme Richard (CV 31)\nLaunched:  29 April, 1944\nCommissioned: 26 November, 1944\nDecommissioned: 2 July, 1971\n\nThe Essex class carriers are by far the most important carrier class of WWII, with no less than 32 carriers of the class ordered. Only 26 were completed however, and the remaining 4 were cancelled before being laid down in March of 1945 as it became clear the war would be won without them; 2 more were scapped on August 12th of 1945 after Japan surrendered. \nMany Essex carriers remained in service long after WWII, the last of them, USS Lexington (CV-16) retiring in 1991  fifty years and four months after it was laid down!\nThere were two distinct sub-versions of the Essex class: short hull (described here) long hull (AKA Ticonderoga). Short Hull Essexes were themselves a modified version of Yorktown class. The Long Hull Essex class was started in 1943, when it became clear that short hull Essex didnt have enough room for ample anti-aircraft weaponry.\nOriginal 1940 plans did not call for the Essex class to enter service until 1940, but the construction was sped up due to war, and by late 1943 the Essex carriers were the mainstay of US carrier force in the Pacific. They remained such until the end of the war.\n\n\n
USSIndianapolisCA35_NAME   USS Indianapolis CA35
USSIndianapolisCA35_INFO   \nPortland Class Cruisers\n\nDisplacement: 9,950 tons\nCrew: 952\nAircraft: 2 \nArmament: 3 x triple 8-inch guns \n4 x Twin 5-inch guns \n6 x Quad 40mm AA guns \n14 x Twin 20mm AA guns \nPower plant: 4 Parsons geared turbines\nScrews 4 \nSpeed 32.5 knots\n\nPortland (CA-33)\nLaunched: 5/21/1932.\nCommissioned: 2/23/1933\nOct 1959: sold and broken up for scrap.\n\nIndianapolis (CA-35)\nLaunched: 11/7/1931\nCommissioned: 11/15/1932\nJuly 30, 1945: Torpedoed and sank by Japanese submarine\n\nThese two cruisers were initially planned as Northampton class. However they were built with various improvements, and became their own class. Only two were built.\nThe Indianapolis played a pivotal role in the Pacific campaign, as she was the ship that delivered the nuclear bombs to Tinian which were later dropped on Japan. On her return trip she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. 880 men were lost.\n\n
USSWardDD139_NAME          USS Ward DD139
USSWardDD139_INFO          \nWickes Class Destroyer\n\nDisplacement: 1,154 Tons\nCrew: 103\nArmament:\n\t4 x 4"/50\n\t2 x 1pdr AA\n\t12 x 21" tt\nMachinery, 24,200 SHP; Geared Turbines\nScrews: 2\nSpeed: 35 Knots\n\nWickes class destroyers, also known as four-stack destroyers were born from the Naval Appropriation Act of 1916, which called for a Navy second to none. Same act authorized what was later to become the Lexington class aircraft carriers.\nHowever as most of the Wickes class DDs were commissioned right around the end of WWI, they were mostly decommissioned in the 1920s. However in early 1940s as it became increasingly clear that the US would be involved in a war sooner or later, most were recommissioned either for US service or sent to Great Britain under the lend-lease act.\nIt was a Wickes class destroyer, USS Ward (DD-139) that fired the first shot of the war between Japan and United States. During an early morning patrol of Hawaiian waters on the fateful Sunday, December 7th, 1941, it noticed a Japanese midget submarine and quickly sank it. Unfortunately Wards reports were ignored, and the rest of the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor proceeded without a hitch.\nWickes destroyers continued to serve with the US Navy throughout the war. Even though they were basically obsolete by 1930s, they were converted into APDs (fast transport) and proved invaluable during the island hopping campaign in the Pacific\n\n\n
USSDentDD116_NAME          USS Dent DD116
USSDentDD116_INFO          \nWickes Class Destroyer\n\nDisplacement: 1,154 Tons\nCrew: 103\nArmament:\n\t4 x 4"/50\n\t2 x 1pdr AA\n\t12 x 21" tt\nMachinery, 24,200 SHP; Geared Turbines\nScrews: 2\nSpeed: 35 Knots\n\nWickes class destroyers, also known as four-stack destroyers were born from the Naval Appropriation Act of 1916, which called for a Navy second to none. Same act authorized what was later to become the Lexington class aircraft carriers.\nHowever as most of the Wickes class DDs were commissioned right around the end of WWI, they were mostly decommissioned in the 1920s. However in early 1940s as it became increasingly clear that the US would be involved in a war sooner or later, most were recommissioned either for US service or sent to Great Britain under the lend-lease act.\nIt was a Wickes class destroyer, USS Ward (DD-139) that fired the first shot of the war between Japan and United States. During an early morning patrol of Hawaiian waters on the fateful Sunday, December 7th, 1941, it noticed a Japanese midget submarine and quickly sank it. Unfortunately Wards reports were ignored, and the rest of the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor proceeded without a hitch.\nWickes destroyers continued to serve with the US Navy throughout the war. Even though they were basically obsolete by 1930s, they were converted into APDs (fast transport) and proved invaluable during the island hopping campaign in the Pacific\n\n\n
USSFletcherDD445_NAME      USS Fletcher DD445
USSFletcherDD445_INFO      \nFletcher Class Destroyer (DD)\n\nSpeed: 36 knots\nArmament:\n-initial 1942: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 4 x 1.1-inch cannon in one quadruple mount, 6-13 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21-inch quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n \n-typical 1942-1943: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 4 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 6-13 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-early-1943 catapult modification: one 5-inch gun mount replaced by seaplane catapult, 2 x 40mm Bofors in a twin mount, 6-8 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, depth charges\n\n-typical mid-1943: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 6 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 8-12 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-typical 1943-1944: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 10 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 7 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-1945 anti-aircraft modification: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 14 x 40mm Bofors AA in 3 twin mounts and 2 quadruple mounts, 12 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in twin mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\nDisplacement: \n\tStandard: 2,050 tons\n\tFull: 2,940 tons\nEngines: 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 2 General Electric Turbines producing 60,000 HP\n\nConsidered the most successful American destroyer of the war, the first ship of the class (the U.S.S. Fletcher), was commissioned during the summer of 1942.  Larger than preceding U.S. destroyers, the design proved an excellent balance of speed, ruggedness, seaworthiness, armament and armor.  High, round bridges characterized the first ships of the class, but later emphasis on anti-aircraft defense led to a redesigned low, square bridge offering better visibility.  The type first saw action in the furious nighttime battles in the Solomon Islands, and continued to serve until the end of the Second World War and on into the Cold War.  Numerically, the Fletcher class was the most important destroyer produced for any navy, with 175 launched during the war. Of these, 19 were lost in battle.\n\n\n
USSOBannonDD450_NAME       USS O'Bannon DD450
USSOBannonDD450_INFO       \nFletcher Class Destroyer (DD)\n\nSpeed: 36 knots\nArmament:\n-initial 1942: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 4 x 1.1-inch cannon in one quadruple mount, 6-13 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21-inch quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n \n-typical 1942-1943: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 4 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 6-13 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-early-1943 catapult modification: one 5-inch gun mount replaced by seaplane catapult, 2 x 40mm Bofors in a twin mount, 6-8 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, depth charges\n\n-typical mid-1943: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 6 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 8-12 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-typical 1943-1944: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 10 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 7 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-1945 anti-aircraft modification: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 14 x 40mm Bofors AA in 3 twin mounts and 2 quadruple mounts, 12 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in twin mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\nDisplacement: \n\tStandard: 2,050 tons\n\tFull: 2,940 tons\nEngines: 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 2 General Electric Turbines producing 60,000 HP\n\nConsidered the most successful American destroyer of the war, the first ship of the class (the U.S.S. Fletcher), was commissioned during the summer of 1942.  Larger than preceding U.S. destroyers, the design proved an excellent balance of speed, ruggedness, seaworthiness, armament and armor.  High, round bridges characterized the first ships of the class, but later emphasis on anti-aircraft defense led to a redesigned low, square bridge offering better visibility.  The type first saw action in the furious nighttime battles in the Solomon Islands, and continued to serve until the end of the Second World War and on into the Cold War.  Numerically, the Fletcher class was the most important destroyer produced for any navy, with 175 launched during the war. Of these, 19 were lost in battle.\n\n\n
USSKiddDD661_NAME          USS Kidd DD661
USSKiddDD661_INFO          \nFletcher Class Destroyer (DD)\n\nSpeed: 36 knots\nArmament:\n-initial 1942: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 4 x 1.1-inch cannon in one quadruple mount, 6-13 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21-inch quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n \n-typical 1942-1943: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 4 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 6-13 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-early-1943 catapult modification: one 5-inch gun mount replaced by seaplane catapult, 2 x 40mm Bofors in a twin mount, 6-8 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, depth charges\n\n-typical mid-1943: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 6 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 8-12 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-typical 1943-1944: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 10 x 40mm Bofors AA in twin mounts, 7 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in single mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\n-1945 anti-aircraft modification: 5 x 5-inch/38-caliber guns in single mounts, 14 x 40mm Bofors AA in 3 twin mounts and 2 quadruple mounts, 12 x 20mm Oerlikon AA in twin mounts, 2 x 21" quintuple torpedo tubes, depth charges\n\nDisplacement: \n\tStandard: 2,050 tons\n\tFull: 2,940 tons\nEngines: 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 2 General Electric Turbines producing 60,000 HP\n\nConsidered the most successful American destroyer of the war, the first ship of the class (the U.S.S. Fletcher), was commissioned during the summer of 1942.  Larger than preceding U.S. destroyers, the design proved an excellent balance of speed, ruggedness, seaworthiness, armament and armor.  High, round bridges characterized the first ships of the class, but later emphasis on anti-aircraft defense led to a redesigned low, square bridge offering better visibility.  The type first saw action in the furious nighttime battles in the Solomon Islands, and continued to serve until the end of the Second World War and on into the Cold War.  Numerically, the Fletcher class was the most important destroyer produced for any navy, with 175 launched during the war. Of these, 19 were lost in battle.\n\n\n
USSGatoSS212_Srf_NAME      USS Gato SS212
USSGatoSS212_Srf_INFO      \nGato Class Submarines\n\nDisplacement:\n\tSurfaced: 1,526 t.\n\tSubmerged: 2,424 t.\n\nLength: 311' 9"\n\nSpeed:\n\tSurfaced 20.25 kts\n\tSubmerged 8.75 kts\nCrew: 60\n\nRange: 11,000 miles \nArmament:\n\t10 x 21" torpedo tubes (6 forward and 4 aft)\n\t24 x 21-inch torpedoes\n\t1 x 3" deck gun\n\t2 x .50 caliber machine guns\n\t2 x .30 cal. machine guns\nPower Plant: 4 x General Motors main generator engines\nPropellers: 2\n\nGato class was one of the most important US submarines of the war, with 73 built to the SS-212 Gato specifications. First Gato subs were laid down in 1940, and commissioned mere weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack.\nWhile early in the war US submarines suffered from ineffective torpedoes and poor training. However as the war progressed things greatly improved, and Gato class submarines played a pivotal role in the Allied victory over Japan.\n\n\n\n
USSGreenlingSS213_Srf_NAME USS Greenling SS213
USSGreenlingSS213_Srf_INFO \n
USSCasablancaCVE55_NAME    USS Casablanca CVE55
USSCasablancaCVE55_INFO    \n
USSKitkunBayCVE71_NAME     USS Kitkun Bay CVE71
USSKitkunBayCVE71_INFO     \n
USSShamrockBayCVE84_NAME   USS Shamrock Bay CVE84
USSShamrockBayCVE84_INFO   \n

HMSPoWBB_NAME              HMS Prince of Wales BB
HMSPoWBB_INFO              \nType: King George V class battleship\n\nCrew: 1,612 (110 officers and 1,502 ratings)\nMain Armament: \t\t\t10 x 14in guns (8 in two quad turrets, 2 in one dual \nturret)\nSecondary Armament: 16 x 5in guns (in 8 twin turrets)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t32-48 x 2 pdr. Mk VIII pompoms\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tseveral 40 mm Bofors\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tup to 18 x 20 mm Oerlikons\nArmour:\tMain Belt 391 mm (15.4") midship\n\t\t\t\tEnds 127-178 mm (5"-7")\n\t\t\t\tLower Belt 76 mm (3")\n\t\t\t\tDeck up to 178 mm (7") all together\n\t\t\t\tTurrets 406 mm (16") face, 279-305 mm (11-12") sides\n\t\t\t\tBarbettes up to 406 mm (16")\n\t\t\t\tConning Tower 381 mm (15")\n\nDisplacement: 35,000 tons (44,650-45,360 tons at full load)\nLength: 225.5 m (739.8') at waterline, 227 m (745.1') overall\nBeam: 31.4 m (103.0')\nDraft: average 8.4 m (27.5'), maximum 10.8 m (35.5')\nMaximum Speed: 27.5 knots (29.2 knots achieved on trials)\nEndurance: \t15,000 nm at 10 knots\n\t\t\t\t\t\t6,300 nm at 20 knots\n\t\t\t\t\t\t3,200 nm at 27 knots\nRadar: \tAir Search Type 279\n\t\t\t\tFire Control Type 284 gunfire control\n\t\t\t\tType 285 anti-aircraft control\n\n\n\n\nHMS Prince of Wales was built at by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead, England, \nand commissioned on 31 March 1941.\nIn late May, while still not fully operational, she was sent into action \nwith the German battleship Bismarck and received\nsignificant damage from heavy gunfire. Following repairs, Prince of Wales \ncarried Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the\nAtlantic to Newfoundland, to join U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt for \nthe Atlantic Charter conference for the first meeting\nof the Allied leaders.\n\nFollowing her return to British waters, Prince of Wales went to the \nMediterranean, where she successfully engaged Italian\nplanes off Malta in late September. Sent to the Far East with the \nbattlecruiser HMS Repulse to counter the swiftly developing\nJapanese threat in the region, she arrived on 2 December 1941. On 8 \nDecember, Force Z (the Prince of Wales, Repulse and four destroyers)\nwere sent to attack the Japanese invasion force reported to have landed in \nnorthern Malaya. Finding no targets, the British ships were\nreturning to Singapore when, late in the morning of 10 December, they were \nattacked by a strong force of Japanese high-level\nbombers and torpedo planes. With no friendly planes to protect them, Repulse \nand Prince of Wales were hit several times\nand sunk, becoming the first capital ships lost to air attack while at sea.\n\n\n
HMSKingGeorgeVBB_NAME      HMS King George V BB
HMSKingGeorgeVBB_INFO      \nType: King George V class battleship\n\nCrew: 1,612 (110 officers and 1,502 ratings)\nMain Armament: \t\t\t10 x 14in guns (8 in two quad turrets, 2 in one dual \nturret)\nSecondary Armament: 16 x 5in guns (in 8 twin turrets)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t32-48 x 2 pdr. Mk VIII pompoms\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tseveral 40 mm Bofors\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tup to 18 x 20 mm Oerlikons\nArmour:\tMain Belt 391 mm (15.4") midship\n\t\t\t\tEnds 127-178 mm (5"-7")\n\t\t\t\tLower Belt 76 mm (3")\n\t\t\t\tDeck up to 178 mm (7") all together\n\t\t\t\tTurrets 406 mm (16") face, 279-305 mm (11-12") sides\n\t\t\t\tBarbettes up to 406 mm (16")\n\t\t\t\tConning Tower 381 mm (15")\n\nDisplacement: 35,000 tons (44,650-45,360 tons at full load)\nLength: 225.5 m (739.8') at waterline, 227 m (745.1') overall\nBeam: 31.4 m (103.0')\nDraft: average 8.4 m (27.5'), maximum 10.8 m (35.5')\nMaximum Speed: 27.5 knots (29.2 knots achieved on trials)\nEndurance: \t15,000 nm at 10 knots\n\t\t\t\t\t\t6,300 nm at 20 knots\n\t\t\t\t\t\t3,200 nm at 27 knots\nRadar: \tAir Search Type 279\n\t\t\t\tFire Control Type 284 gunfire control\n\t\t\t\tType 285 anti-aircraft control\n\n\n\n\nHMS Prince of Wales was built at by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead, England, \nand commissioned on 31 March 1941.\nIn late May, while still not fully operational, she was sent into action \nwith the German battleship Bismarck and received\nsignificant damage from heavy gunfire. Following repairs, Prince of Wales \ncarried Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the\nAtlantic to Newfoundland, to join U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt for \nthe Atlantic Charter conference for the first meeting\nof the Allied leaders.\n\nFollowing her return to British waters, Prince of Wales went to the \nMediterranean, where she successfully engaged Italian\nplanes off Malta in late September. Sent to the Far East with the \nbattlecruiser HMS Repulse to counter the swiftly developing\nJapanese threat in the region, she arrived on 2 December 1941. On 8 \nDecember, Force Z (the Prince of Wales, Repulse and four destroyers)\nwere sent to attack the Japanese invasion force reported to have landed in \nnorthern Malaya. Finding no targets, the British ships were\nreturning to Singapore when, late in the morning of 10 December, they were \nattacked by a strong force of Japanese high-level\nbombers and torpedo planes. With no friendly planes to protect them, Repulse \nand Prince of Wales were hit several times\nand sunk, becoming the first capital ships lost to air attack while at sea.\n\n\n
HMSDukeOfYorkBB_NAME       HMS Duke of York BB
HMSDukeOfYorkBB_INFO       \nType: King George V class battleship\n\nCrew: 1,612 (110 officers and 1,502 ratings)\nMain Armament: \t\t\t10 x 14in guns (8 in two quad turrets, 2 in one dual \nturret)\nSecondary Armament: 16 x 5in guns (in 8 twin turrets)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t32-48 x 2 pdr. Mk VIII pompoms\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tseveral 40 mm Bofors\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tup to 18 x 20 mm Oerlikons\nArmour:\tMain Belt 391 mm (15.4") midship\n\t\t\t\tEnds 127-178 mm (5"-7")\n\t\t\t\tLower Belt 76 mm (3")\n\t\t\t\tDeck up to 178 mm (7") all together\n\t\t\t\tTurrets 406 mm (16") face, 279-305 mm (11-12") sides\n\t\t\t\tBarbettes up to 406 mm (16")\n\t\t\t\tConning Tower 381 mm (15")\n\nDisplacement: 35,000 tons (44,650-45,360 tons at full load)\nLength: 225.5 m (739.8') at waterline, 227 m (745.1') overall\nBeam: 31.4 m (103.0')\nDraft: average 8.4 m (27.5'), maximum 10.8 m (35.5')\nMaximum Speed: 27.5 knots (29.2 knots achieved on trials)\nEndurance: \t15,000 nm at 10 knots\n\t\t\t\t\t\t6,300 nm at 20 knots\n\t\t\t\t\t\t3,200 nm at 27 knots\nRadar: \tAir Search Type 279\n\t\t\t\tFire Control Type 284 gunfire control\n\t\t\t\tType 285 anti-aircraft control\n\n\n\n\nHMS Prince of Wales was built at by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead, England, \nand commissioned on 31 March 1941.\nIn late May, while still not fully operational, she was sent into action \nwith the German battleship Bismarck and received\nsignificant damage from heavy gunfire. Following repairs, Prince of Wales \ncarried Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the\nAtlantic to Newfoundland, to join U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt for \nthe Atlantic Charter conference for the first meeting\nof the Allied leaders.\n\nFollowing her return to British waters, Prince of Wales went to the \nMediterranean, where she successfully engaged Italian\nplanes off Malta in late September. Sent to the Far East with the \nbattlecruiser HMS Repulse to counter the swiftly developing\nJapanese threat in the region, she arrived on 2 December 1941. On 8 \nDecember, Force Z (the Prince of Wales, Repulse and four destroyers)\nwere sent to attack the Japanese invasion force reported to have landed in \nnorthern Malaya. Finding no targets, the British ships were\nreturning to Singapore when, late in the morning of 10 December, they were \nattacked by a strong force of Japanese high-level\nbombers and torpedo planes. With no friendly planes to protect them, Repulse \nand Prince of Wales were hit several times\nand sunk, becoming the first capital ships lost to air attack while at sea.\n\n\n
HMSIllustriousCV_NAME      HMS Illustrious CV
HMSIllustriousCV_INFO      \nIllustrious class carriers\n\nType: Fleet Aircraft Carrier (Illustrious Class)\nShips in Class: Illustrious, Victorious, Formidable, Indomitable\nDisplacement: 23,100 tons (28,661 tons fullly loaded)\nEngines Propulsion: Steam Turbines (6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 3 shafts, \nParsons geared turbines), 111,000 shp.\nMaximum Speed: 30.5 knots\nAnti-Aircraft Armament: 5 x 8 x 2pdr pom-pom\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 x 1 x 40mm Bofors\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t19 x 2 x 20mm Oerlikon\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t14 x 1 x 20mm Oerlikon\nCrew: 900 Officers and Ratings, 350 Air Group\nRange: 11,000 nm at 14 knots\nLength: 673' pp, 743.75' oa\nBeam: 96\nDraught: 28'\nFlight Deck length: 670'\nFlight Deck width: 95'\nArmour: 3" flight deck\n\t\t\t\t2" hangar deck\n\t\t\t\t4" side belt\n\t\t\t\t4" hangar sides\nAircraft: (including aircraft parked on the flight deck)\n\t\t\t\t\t1940: 33 aircraft: Fulmars and Swordfish\n\t\t\t\t\tSep 1942: 21 Martlet, 6 Fulmars, and 18 Swordfish\n\t\t\t\t\tJuly 1943: 28 Martlets and 18 Avengers\n\t\t\t\t\tJan 1944: 24 Corsais and 21 Barracudas\n\t\t\t\t\tMay 1944: 24 Corsairs and 18 Avengers\n\t\t\t\t\tJune 1944: 42 Corsairs and 15 Barracudas\n\t\t\t\t\tNov 1944: 36 Corsairs, 15 Avengers\n\n\nThe "Illustrious" Class vessels were distinguished by flight deck armour \nweighing 1500 tons. To preserve\nthe ship stability and speed, a reduction in hangar space meant that \nrelatively few aircraft could be carried.\n\nHMS Illustrious was built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow in the UK and was \ncommissioned on 25 May 1940.\n\nShe is best remembered for the torpedo attack by twenty of her Fairey \nSwordfish aircraft on the Italian Fleet at\nTaranto on the night of 11-12 November 1940, when one battleship was sunk \nand two others beached.\nShe also led the strike on Benghazi on 16-17 September, was part of Malta \nconvoys between September-October, and\nagain on Malta convoys from November 1940 to January 1941.\n\nHMS Illustrious was heavily damaged by German dive-bombers on 10 January \n1941, and was out of action until the\nfollowing December. After temporary repairs at Malta 10-23 January 1941, and \nAlexandria between February-March 1941,\nmajor repairs were undertaken at Norfolk, Va.(USA) between May-December \n1941.\n\nBy May 1942, HMS Illustrious was on operations against Vichy French forces \nin Diego Suarez Madagascar, and remained in the\nIndian Ocean from May 1942 until January 1943, where she undertook further \noperations against Madagascar in September 1942.\nShe undertook a refit in the UK between February-June 1943 then returned to \nthe Mediterranean between August-November 1943\nwhere she took part in the Salerno landings in September 1943.\n\nAfter another refit in the UK from December 1943 to January 1944 she joined \nthe Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean.\nIllustrious led air strikes against Sabang in Japanese-held Sumatra in April \n1944, Soerabaja on Java in May 1944, and\nSabang again in July 1944.\n\nFollowing a refit at Durban between July to December 1944, she joined the \nEastern Fleet from December 1944 and led\nTask Force 63 (HM carriers "Indomitable", "Illustrious", "Indefatigable" and \n"Victorious") in a strike on Palembang, Sumatra\non 24-29 January 1945.\n\nAfter repair in Sydney, operations commenced again in March 1945, with air \nstrikes against Sakishima Gunto and Formosa.\nDamaged by a two Kamikaze hits on 9 April 1945 and temporarily repaired at \nLeyte, she sailed to Sydney in May 1945 for repairs,\nfollowed by repairs and alterations in the UK from June 1945-June 1946.\n\nThe increase in size of aircraft, particularly jets, made post-war use of \nthe Illustrious class impractical\ndue to a lack of hangar height, and she was retired and finally sold for \nscrap on 3 November 1956.\n\n\n




IJNAkagiCV_NAME            IJN Akagi CV
IJNAkagiCV_INFO            \nAkagi Class Carrier\nDisplacement: 41,300 tons\nAircraft: 91\nCrew: 2,000\nLength: 855'3" \nArmament: 10 x 8"/50 Type I\n\t12 x 4.7"/45\n\t28 x 25mm/60\nSpeed: 31 knots\nAkagi, much like its contemporaries Lexington and Saratoga, began as a battle cruiser. She was completed as an aircraft carrier in 1927, and went through massive reconstruction between 1935 and 1938. It went served in support of Japanese operation in China. Akagi was the Japanese flagship for the attack on Pearl Harbor.\nAkagi remained the flagship of largely the same force that fought at Pearl Harbor. In this capacity she was encountered by US Navy aircraft on June 4th, 1942 during the battle of Midway and was subsequently sunk, taking most of the Pearl Harbor veterans with her to the bottom. \n\n\n
IJNAkizukiDD42_NAME        IJN Akizuki DD
IJNAkizukiDD42_INFO        \nAkizuki Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 3,700 tons\nCrew: 300\nLength: 134.2 m\nWidth: 11.60m\nPower Plant: 2-shaft geared turbine, 3 boilers, 52,000shp\nSpeed: 33 knots\nRange: 8,300 nm\nArmament: \n\t8 x 10cm DP gun (2x4)\n\t4 x 25mm AA\n\t4 x 61cm TT (4x1)\n\nJapanese Akizuki class destroyers were the largest destroyers built by any country of WWII. They were so uncommonly large for a destroyer that Allied crews often identified them as cruisers. They began with a 1936 Imperial Japanese Navy plan for special air defense destroyers, which were to be used in all carrier groups.\nThrough trial and error the Akizuki class destroyers continued to be modified throughout the war, receiving increasingly heavy armament. They participated in virtually every naval battle in the Pacific, and majority were sunk by the time hostilities ended.\n\n\n
IJNAmatsukazeDD41_NAME     IJN Amatsukaze DD /1941
IJNAmatsukazeDD41_INFO     \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNAmatsukazeDD43_NAME     IJN Amatsukaze DD /1943
IJNAmatsukazeDD43_INFO     \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNAmatsukazeDD45_NAME     IJN Amatsukaze DD /1945
IJNAmatsukazeDD45_INFO     \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNArashiDD41_NAME         IJN Arashi DD /1941
IJNArashiDD41_INFO         \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNKageroDD41_NAME         IJN Kagero DD /1941
IJNKageroDD41_INFO         \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n\n\n
IJNNowakiDD41_NAME         IJN Nowaki DD /1941
IJNNowakiDD41_INFO         \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNNowakiDD43_NAME         IJN Nowaki DD /1943
IJNNowakiDD43_INFO         \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNYukikazeDD41_NAME       IJN Yukikaze DD /1941
IJNYukikazeDD41_INFO       \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNYukikazeDD43_NAME       IJN Yukikaze DD /1943
IJNYukikazeDD43_INFO       \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNYukikazeDD45_NAME       IJN Yukikaze DD /1945
IJNYukikazeDD45_INFO       \nKagero Class Destroyer\nDisplacement: 2,000 tons\nCrew: 240\nLength: 116.2m\nArmament:\n\t127mm gun 2 x 3\n\t610mm torpedo 4 x 2\nSpeed: 35 knots\n\nIn the period between the two world wars Japan was limited by the arms reduction treaty on the tonnage of destroyers they build, among other things.  Japan continued to search for ways to satisfy the treaty and produce superior warships. They almost found their goal with the Asashio class, but its follow-up the Kagero can be considered a truly ideal destroyer. Its firepower, speed and range were truly excellent for its time.\nAltogether 19 ships of Kagero class were built between 1939 and 1941. When they first entered service, Kagero destroyers were second to none, and easily superior to most other contemporary destroyers. They served with incredible valor in the South Pacific. Out of nineteen built, only one  the famous Yukikaze  survived the war.\n\n\n
IJNFishJunk_NAME           JP Fishing Boat
IJNFishJunk_INFO           \n
IJNFishJunkA_NAME          JP Fishing Boat armed
IJNFishJunkA_INFO          \n


# --- German
mas501_NAME                MAS-501 torpedo boat
mas501_INFO                \nSpeed: 42 knots\nArmament: 2 x 450mm torpedo tubes and 2 x 13.2mm machineguns \nDisplacement: 24 tons\nLength: 17m\nBeam: 4.4m\nDraft: 1.25m\nEngines: 2 gasoline engines with a total of 2,000HP plus 2 auxiliary engines giving 80HP, driving 2 shafts\nCrew: 11 men\n\nThe MAS 501 was the first in a progressively improved series of successful Italian fast attack crafts built between 1936 and 1941. In total, 76 vessels were built. With slight variations in AA armament, but keeping the 2x 450mm torpedoes, the later boats were given stronger engines and a slightly larger hull. From MAS 556, the boats had steel hulls as opposed to wooden hulls earlier.\n\nAn MAS flotilla operated in the Black Sea from May 1942 until May 1943. The Italian crews displayed great \u00E9lan on several occasions and sunk a Soviet submarine, a 5,000-ton steamer and a transport of unknown tonnage, and crippled a 10,000-ton transport (later sunk by a German Junker 87). An MAS 573 and 568 attacked and damaged the destroyer Kharkov and crippled the cruiser Molotov (Kirov class) while saving a German convoy.\nThe flotilla endured many Soviet air attacks both in port and at sea. One such raid sank 2 and seriously damaged 3 other MAS in port. The losses were replaced with new boats from Italy.\n\nIn summer 1942, two boats were transported by a truck column to Lake Ladoga north of Leningrad. During its short stay on Lake Ladoga, the MAS were used in support of the Siebel f\u00E4hren operating there, engaging in several clashes with the Soviet Ladoga flotilla. In November, the two MAS were given to Finnish Navy and the crews returned in Italy.\n\n

s80_NAME                   Torpedo boat S-80
s80_INFO                   \n    S-80 Torpedo boat (Schnellboote 1939/1940 klasse)\n\nSpeed: 41 knots.\nArmament: 2 torpedo tubes with 6 torpedoes (4 reloads) , 2-6 37 mm Flak guns and 2 single 20  mm guns Displacement: ~100 tons\nEngines: 3 Daimler-Benz 20-cyl diesel engines giving up to 7.500 hp\n\nThe 1939/1940 class S-boot was the largest class of fast attack boat built in Germany during the war. Built between 1940 and 1945, these boats were modified in the light of operational experience. In particular, the light flak armament was tripled in later boats. Powered by the 20-cylinder Daimler Benz diesel, they were able to record speeds of over 40 knots. \nFrom S100 on, the boats were equipped with an armoured control platform to protect the crew. \n\nMost of the 100 boats built were lost during the war, either through mine hits or during battles and air attacks. The surviving boats were given to various countries after the war. The Soviet Union used several of them until the 1950s.\n\n\n

murges_NAME                "Amiral Murgesku"
murges_INFO                \n    "Amiral Murgesku"\n\nProduced in 1941 in Romania. Displacement: 812 tons. The diesel mounting, made by Krupp, had a power of 2,100 HP. Speed: 16 knots. Length: 77m. Width: 9.1m. Average draught: 2.5m. Armament: two 105 mm anti-aircraft guns, two 37 mm and four 20 mm cannon, 135 mines.\n\nConstruction of the "Chetea Alba" ship, belonging to the same type, began at the same time , but only the "Amiral Murgesku" was completed. In August 1944, it joined the forces of the USSR Navy under the name of "Don".\n

niobe_NAME                 AA Niobe Cruiser
niobe_INFO                 \nLength: 95 m.\nBeam: 15 m.\nAverage draught: 5 m\nDisplacement: 3,500 tons\nSpeed: 15 knots\nEngine power: 10,000 HP\nArmament:  8 x 105 mm anti-aircraft guns, 4 x 40 mm Bofors-FLAK and 4 x 20 mm cannon, radar W\u00FCrzburg.\n\nThe Gelderland light cruiser was built in Holland in 1891. After Holland's capitulation, this ship was converted to an anti-aircraft cruiser (AA-cruiser) and then renamed the Niobe. The Niobe was typical of the floating AA-batteries of that period.\nThe Niobe sank in Kotka harbor on July 16, 1944 after a successful, but bloody attack of Soviet naval aviation. 4 enemy torpedoes reached their target, but all four torpedo bombers were shot down by the Niobe's artillery.\n\n

vaina_NAME                 Coastal Defence Ship
vaina_INFO                 \nDisplacment: 3900 tons\nLength: 93.0 meters\nWidth:16.9 meters\nDraft: 5.0 meters\nSpeed: 15 knots\nEngines: Four 875 hp diesel engines supplied power for the generators driving two propellers.\nArmament: 4-254 mm Bofors, 8-105 mm Bofors, 4-40 mm Vickers, 2-20 mm Madsen.\nCrew: 403 ; 27 officers and 376 men\nShips in class: Ilmarinen, V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen.\n\nIn the Continuation War the coast defence ships was more or less a "fleet in being".  In the beginning of the war the coastal defence ships supported the small Finnish force that repulsed the attack on Bengtsk\u00E4r. During this they came under attacked by 18 PE-2s. Two bombs detonated just behind Ilmarinen, causing splinter damage and light personnel losses. \nDuring the diversion manoeuvre for operation Nordwind ( German invasion of the islands in the Riga bay ) Ilmarinen was lost to Soviet mines. \nAfter the loss of Ilmarinen, V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen shelled the Hanko area one last time 15.11.1941. These were the last heavy shells fired by Finnish ships, except some practice shots. During the following three years of war, V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen stayed mostly in the area west from "Seeigel" and "Nashorn" mine barrages. V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen was the center of "Detachment V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen", whose tasks were antisubmarine operations in the west and attacks against heavier units. The unit remained mostly out of battles, as heavier enemy units never sailed out from Leningrad. Only light securing forces of "Detachment V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen" attacked sometimes Soviet submarines. \nDuring 1942 V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen, six VMV patrol boats and six motor mine sweepers, was based on the coast between Helsinki and Kotka. V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen remained camouflaged and moved only when it was needed. Even if the Finnish gunboats could not cope with enemy, the Navy command was doubtful to send V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen into action. During 1943 the most important task of "Detachment V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen" was to lead the submarine hunting operations east from the Porkkala-Naissaari submarine net. This was mostly done by the smaller ships of the detachment.\nDuring the Soviet offencive in summer 1944, V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen was kept as a last line of defence, hidden west of Kotka. When the relations to Germany were deteriorating after the cease fire with the Soviets, V\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen with support ships and the Submarine Flotilla were moved to the Ahvenanmaa - Saaristomeri area. Their task was to guard Ahvenanmaa.\n\nV\u00E4in\u00E4m\u00F6inen was sold to Soviet Union as part of war reparations after the war. She then served more than 10 years under the name Vyborg.\n\n

mfp1_NAME                  AFP Type 1
mfp1_INFO                  \nDisplacement: 380 tons\nLength: 49.80 meters\nBeam: 6.61 meters\nDraft: 1.3-1.4 meters\nArmament: several different configurations, usually two 88mm or 105mm guns plus several light AA cannons\nEngine: 3 truck diesels totaling 368HP driving 3 shafts\nSpeed: 8 knots\nCrew: ~60 men\n\nBased on the Marinef\u00E4hrprahm Type D, these Artillery Ferries were used for several different kinds of operation. Though initially a provisional design, they proved to be very useful vessels. They took over the role of gunboats in various operational areas, including the Black Sea. In addition to their use as escort vessels, they were also used for shore bombardments and mine laying. Their main drawback was their slow speed.\nThe AFP had a light armor protection, 20mm of armor steel and up to 100mm of concrete armor at the superstructures and ammunition stores.\n\n

mfp2_NAME                  AFP Type 2
mfp2_INFO                  \nDisplacement: 380 tons\nLength: 49.80 meters\nBeam: 6.61 meters\nDraft: 1.3-1.4 meters\nArmament: several different configurations, usually 2-4 88mm or 105mm guns plus several 20mm AA cannons, including such as 4x20mm turrets\nEngine: 3 truck diesels totaling 368HP driving 3 shafts\nSpeed: 8 knots\nCrew: ~60 men\n\nBased on the Marinef\u00E4hrprahm Type D, these Artillery Ferries were used for several different kinds of operation. Though initially a provisional design, they proved to be very useful vessels. They took over the role of gunboats in various operational areas, including the Black Sea. In addition to their use as escort vessels, they were also used for shore bombardments and mine laying. Their main drawback was their slow speed.\nThe AFP had a light armor protection, 20mm of armor steel and up to 100mm of concrete armor at the superstructures and ammunition stores.\n\n

submar_NAME                Submarine Type IIB
submar_INFO                \n    U-boat, type II B\n\nSeries II submarines had a displacement of only 250 tons and dimensions that justified the "submarines for coastal operation" classification. They were the first submarines launched in the Kriegsmarine.\n\nFrom the very beginning, there was no place for submarines of the II series in Navy commands strategic plans. However, the situation at the onset of war required the quick deployment of small submarines as well. It soon turned out that series II was as good as useless in the struggle for the Atlantic and this was the reason why submarines were used as mine barriers in 1940 and the beginning of 1941. In June 1941 all submarines of series II were called back from the Atlantic and moved to the Baltic sea where they were used for training purposes and sporadically against the Soviet Baltic fleet.\n\nNevertheless, a battle theatre was soon found for series II as well. In the late summer of 1941, six submarines of this type were transported by rail to Konstanza (Romania) to fight against the Soviet fleet on the Black Sea and to effect a blockade of the main naval stronghold - Sebastopol. Six of these submarines were used with relative success till 1944, when they were lost in the major defeat on the Black Sea. Three submarines were sunk on August 20 1944 by aviation of the Black Sea Fleet in Konstanza harbor. On September 9, after Bulgaria dropped out of the war and German submarines lost their last bases on the Black Sea, the three remaining submarines were sunk off the Turkish coast. Due to their training status, other series II submarines survived the war and either surrendered or were sunk in 1945.\n
