Naval Operations History

Historical black-and-white images of naval operations, including ships on fire and military maneuvers during significant conflicts like World War II.

S.S. Viceroy Of Indian Sinks -- In the London Daily Mail today, November 30 this picture, described as the sinking of the S.S. Viceroy of India in the Atlantic in November of 1942, appeared for the first that the ship, a British Liner, was sunk by a German sub while carrying American troops to England. No details of loss of life, if any, were given. Vessel was built in Glasgow in 1929. She was a twin-screw craft, 586 feet long and 76 feet broad. Lloyd's register credits the ship with 19,627 tons. November 30, 1944. (Photo by ACME Radiophoto).

North Africa Operations. 12 November 1942, Bougie, North Africa. SS KARANJA and SS CATHAY on fire off Bougie.

Dunkirk and the Retreat From France 1940 A paddle steamer towing some of the 'little ships' used during the evacuation of Dunkirk, 3 June 1940.

Anefo photo collection. National BB Demonstration in Rotterdam, Prof. Ball at Red Cross Exercise Blaak. 25 June 1955. Rotterdam, South Holland

Hercules and Revenge at Jutland

Italian naval squadron receiving orders to bomb the Turkish forts in the Dardanelles, Turkey, April 18, 1912, Italian-Turkish war, photograph by Rino Matteucci, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXIX, No 18, May 5, 1912.

S.S. Viceroy Of Indian Sinks -- In the London Daily Mail today, November 30 this picture, described as the sinking of the S.S. Viceroy of India in the Atlantic in November of 1942, appeared for the first that the ship, a British Liner, was sunk by a German sub while carrying American troops to England. No details of loss of life, if any, were given. Vessel was built in Glasgow in 1929. She was a twin-screw craft, 586 feet long and 76 feet broad. Lloyd's register credits the ship with 19,627 tons. November 30, 1944. (Photo by ACME Radiophoto).

HMS Hartland on Fire and Sinking After Following HMS Walney Into Oran Harbour in the Face of a Hot Fire From French Warships and Shore Batteries.

U.S. Naval Forces Aid Allied Landings In Sicily -- Smoke rises from burning Axis installations on the shore at Livata, Sicily, following a bombardment by the U.S. cruiser (left) from which this picture was taken, and other Allied warships, as the initial invasion landings got under way. More than 1,500 U.S. Navy vessels, ranging in size from cruisers to small landing craft and manned by 40,000 officers and men were among the 3,000 Allied ships which took part in the gigantic amphibious operations. August 29, 1943.

Operation Pedestal, August 1942 12 August: Evening air and submarine attacks: A bomb falling astern of MS GLENORCHY, which was later sunk by air attack.

Cruiser Sheffield with anti airdrift guns in action. September 13, 1939.

Swedish warships at sea, 1937 . Swedish warships at sea.

Ramming Technique Spells Doom Of Italian Submarine -- British destroyer crews have developed a new technique in battling submarines which prey on allied convoys in the Mediterranean. After forcing the enemy craft to surface with depth charges. The destroyer save sub. to prevent escape. Here is a series of excusive pictures showing British destroyer *****. December 28, 1942.

King Leads His Fleet In Battle Exercises In Channel - Anti-aircraft guns of H.M.S. "Sheffield" of 2nd Cruiser Squadron in action against the "Queen Bee" radio controlled aeroplane. The machine was brought down by the gunners.From the bridge of the "Nelson'', flagship of the Home Fleet, the King took command of 80 warships and led his fleet from Weymouth Bay (Dorset) to sea for exercises in the English Channel.An elaborate programme showed the King as many phases as possible of the work of the Navy, from air co-operation to concentration fire on the radio controlled target ship "Centurion". June 22, 1938.

Hunter on the road ...

The caption for the 1916 Worl War I photo reads: Cloud of poisonous gas released by Italian troops from tanks concealed in the thicket.

British Destroyer Lays Smoke Screen During Allied Landing In North AfricaAs transports of the Allied occupation forces move up to discharge troops at Algerian beach heads, a British destroyer lays a Smoke screen for protection. February 22, 1943. (Photo by Interphoto News Pictures, Inc.).

The Australian Navy at YorkA Cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy putting out a smoke screen.Here are some pictures taken of units of the Australian fleet at work in home waters helping in the Empire's war effort for the ultimate defeat of the common enemy. January 20, 1941.

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Royal Salute At Weymouth as King Boards Royal Yacht - The King this evening, June 20, boarded the Royal yacht Victoria and Ubert in Weymouth Bay, where 78 ships of the home fleet are lying in readiness for his Majesty's three days' visit to his fleet, ***** Royal Salute was fired when the king *****. July 13, 1938.

Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905: Japanese naval brigade landing under Russian fire at Pitsewo.

Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten and officers on the bridge of the destroyer HMS KELVIN, September 1940. Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten and officers on the bridge of HMS KELVIN whilst she is at sea, as seen from the crow's nest. The two forward twin 4.7 inch gun turrets can be seen beyond the bridge.

D-day - Allied Forces during the Invasion of Normandy 6 June 1944 An LCT(R) - Landing Craft Tank (Rocket) - in action off Juno assault area, 6 June 1944.

War Game-Torpedo boats capture CHESTER & SALEM

The Ark Royal British Navy ship during a cruise on the high seas unknown

North American B-25 destruction shown here caused by LST gunfire on 26 Dec 43 off Cape Gloucester, New Britain. Battle excitement apparently caused LST fire.

Unloading Stores At Sicily -- Allied soldiers stand waist deep in water as they pass along stores from landing craft during the first day of the Sicilian invasion, July 10. In the foreground. This photo was taken just after dawn by an official British photograph. July 25, 1943. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Photograph of the USS Nevada after the Japanese Attack on Pearl HarborThe USS Nevada (BB36) after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7 1941. Moving to position away from enflamed ships. Foreground salvage and rescue tugs gun crews in action.

Fotocollectie Eerste Wereldoorlog. With the British navy in war time. Destroyers patrolling the North Sea on the look-out for "U" boats. 1914-1918}

Might of Britain's Reserve Fleet Assembled For King's Inspection - The Reserve Fleet anchored in Weymouth bay, H.M.S. "Wivers", a destroyer is in the Foreground.A hundred and thirty-three units of the Reserve Fleet representing, all types of warships, mustered off Weymouth, Dorset, for inspection by King George. August 08, 1939.

Payoff hits obscure the stricken 4000 ton Japanese troopship in a blast of smoke, water and flying debris.

Capture Of Yi Kiang Shan -- Chinese "Liberation Army" troops stormed and captured the nationalist held island of Yi Kiang Shan, one of the Tachen group, in a sudden assault supported by naval and air forces on Jan. 18.According to communist sources in piping, this photo shows a landing craft approaching the island during the assault. Smoke rises from the beaches after the sea and air bombardment. Overhead two aircraft circle the beaches. March 23, 1955.

D,Day in the Southwest Pacific dawned with the Invasion of Mbrotai Island, just south of the Philippines, Units of the Army, Navy and Air Forces under General Douglas MacArthur, Commander,in,Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, combined their assault for a smashing blow at the shrinking Japanese Empire. Heavy air and naval bombardments preceded the Navy's putting the Army ashore. September 15, 1944. (Photo by Official U.S. Navy Photograph).

. Photograph of British Beagle class destroyer HMS Racoon sweeping the Dardanelles during the Battle of Gallipoli. She is in the foreground and has just been hit by a shell.

Exercise shooting ...

An elevated port beam view of a Soviet Sam Kotlin class guided missile destroyer. Country: Gulf Of Sollum

Lexington, an American aircraft carrier was sunk 7th May 1942 by torpedoes and bombs from the Japanese Navy. She first seemed to survive the bombing, but after a series of internal explosions, the ship was doomed. The Battle of the Coral Sea

Anzio-Nettuno Landing. --" Ducks" loaded infantry come ashore. Since their successful landing on the coast South of Rome in the Anzio-Nettuno district allied forces now firmly hold a bridgehead which has successfully resisted repeated German attacks in force. March 13, 1944. (Photo by British Official Photo).

USS Arizona, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941

The burning Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu, photographed by a Yokosuka B4Y aircraft from the carrier Hosho shortly after sunrise on 5 June 1942. Hiryu sank a few hours later. Note the collapsed flight deck over the forward hangar. Battle of Midway

Fourth Marines Hit Iwo Jima Beach -- Fourth Marines dash from landing craft, dragging equipment, while others "Go Over The Top" of sand dune as they hit the beach of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, February 19. Smoke of artillery of Mortar fire in background. February 22, 1945. (Photo by Joe Rosenthal, AP).

Britain's BulwarksAn impressive study of Britain's mighty naval strength assembled at the McRay Firth. It shows the Nelson (behind) and Rodney (front) under the line of flags on another vessel dressed in honour of the Queen's birthday.The home fleet is undergoing exercise at Invergordon, Moray Firth, and today the first sea lord completed this week. July 11, 1933. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The German supply ship ELBE burning fiercely, the effect of one hit, while other bombs are seen bursting alongside. Disguised as a Norwegian vessel, she attempted to elude patrols. Taking no notice of repeated signals from the naval aircraft which reported her, she made a hopeless attempt to escape at full speed.

Photograph of Burning and Damaged Ships at Pearl HarborBurning and damaged ships at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7 1941.

French Battleship Damaged In Casablanca - Hole through the ***** of the 40,000 the French battleship Jean Bart which was damaged before the capture of Casablanca by the Allies. The picture has been released by the Censor. January 01, 1943.

The first naval conflict between ironclad vessels took place on March 9, 1862, between the Confederate Navy's "Merrimac" (left) and the United States Navy's "Monitor". Meeting at Hampton Roads in the State of Virginia, the two ships fought an indecisive battle, leaving unchanged the blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and the Confederate control of the James River. (58-4379)

Fighter planes on board an aircraft carrier, Second World War, c1943. 'A Martlet Grumman F4F Wildcat of the Fleet Air Arm, bearing American markings, flies off a British carrier during the African operations, while other Martlets and Seafires are ready to follow. The Fleet Air Arm protected the Royal Navy Fleet and transports, covered the landings, and supported the advance.' The FAA is the section of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. From "Fleet Air Arm". His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1943

U.S. Navy Scout Plane Launched At Sea -- Off on an observation mission, a U.S. Navy observation scout plane is catapulted into the air from a heavy U.S. Navy cruiser. This operation has seldom been shown in pictures. The plane lands in the water and is lifted back on to the ship by a derrick. July 06, 1943. (Photo by U.S. Office of War Information Picture).

Anefo photo collection. Mn Merchant Navy / Anefo London series. SS. "Ottoland" sinks gentleman. October 5, 1940

Dunkirk, France, June 1940. Passage built in Dunkirk by the British, on trucks thrown into the water from the beach to the transport ships that were to take them to the British Isles.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Looking down from the aircraft carrier's island on the snow covered and crowded deck of HMS EMPEROR as she made her way through the icy waters off Newfoundland with her cargo of Grumman Hellcat fighters for the Fleet Air Arm. Pack ice can be seen in the sea.

Anefo photo collection. Dutch mining layer mines waters Dutch East Indies. 1940-1942}. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

The naval arms race, primarily between Britain and Germany, of the early years of the 20th century, saw Britain seeking to stay ahead of the rapid growth of the German fleet. H.M.S. Duncan was commissioned in 1903, and assigned to the 6th Battle Squadron based in Portsmouth in 1913. Seen here at gunnery practice, she would be refitted at the outbreak of war. Date: January 1914

HMS Devonshire At sea. Aerial oblique.

Black Tom Island port facilities in Jersey City were destroyed in a massive explosion on July 30 1916. The island was a storage and export facility for munitions bound for warring Europe and was believed to be caused by anti-British saboteurs.

Ships Burning and Sinking After Attack on Pearl Harbor

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The British Flower class corvette HMS HONEYSUCKLE coming alongside the aircraft carrier HMS TRUMPETER (from which the photograph was taken) in Kola Inlet, which is full of pack ice.

The United States Navy fleet oiler Neosho is left burning and slowly sinking after an attack by Imperial Japanese Navy dive bombers on May 7, 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Shot lump from the French navy. .

The Battle of Santiago, Cuba, July 3, 1898

Photograph showing the Royal Navy aircraft-carrier HMS 'Ark Royal' listing heavily to starboard, after being torpedoed in the Mediterranean Sea in November 1941. Shortly after this image was taken the crew abandoned ship and the 'Ark Royal' sank. Date: 06/12/1941

''La fin de L' "Emden"; L' "Emden", a la cote de l'ile Koeling Nord, du groupe des Cocos, le 29 novembre 1914: surpris a son tour par le navire australien "Sydney" ', 1914. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919: Volume I". L'Illustration, Paris, 1926.

Battleship California Raised -- With water spewing from Salvage pumps. Building Boyancy While cables from Long-Boomed cranes assist, the U.S. Battleship California rises to the surface and her Bow emerge from beneath the water during salvage operations which raised 16 of the 19 ships sunk by Japs on Dec. 7,1941, in their opening attack on the United States. May 24, 1943. (Photo by AP Wirephoto)

Pearl Harbor: three stricken U.S. battleships. Left to right: U.S.S. West Virginia, severely damaged; U.S.S. Tennessee, damaged; and U.S.S. Arizona, sunk, December 7, 1941

The Royal Navy during the Second World War- Operation Overlord (the Normandy Landings), June 1944 HMS HOLMES drops a depth charge on a suspected U-boat during the landing operations on the Normandy coast.

Normandy, France: June 6, 1944 Navy Seabees pilot heavily-laden "Rhino Ferries" to the beaches of Normandy as the D-Day invasion of France begins. The Rhino Ferry is a Seebee concept, a long self-propelled pontoon barge that can run in close to a shallow beach.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Palembang. Landscaping with soldiers. July 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Palembang, Sumatra

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Depth charges being dropped from HMS JAGUAR.

Combined Fleet Goes Through Pre-Navy Day Exercises -- Aircraft and heavy cruisers ***** recent maneuvers held in the Pacific ***** California coast by the combined fleet ***** States Navy, in preparation for Navy ***** be observed on October 27th. November 15, 1939. (Photo by Wide World Photo).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Firefighters busy on board HMS FORMIDABLE after a Japanese suicide plane had crashed onto the flight deck whilst she was operating off the Sakishima Islands in support of the Okinawa landings. The burning wreckage has been extinguished though it has not been cleared from the flight deck yet.

Salvage of HMS Gipsy. 21 March 1943, Felixstowe. Views of a large portion of HMS GIPSY on the bows of the salvage vessel after being hauled to the surface.

Group of men in mutiny on the Battleship Potemkin, Russian Revolution, Russia, June 14, 1905

Warships on the Sea.

German Trawler Found In Greenland Ice Floes -- Coast Guardsmen from the combat cutter Northland (Background) find an abandoned German trawler (Left Foreground) recently in ice floes off Greenland's east coast. Finding of this vessel was one incident in series of coast guard actions in area which included capture of an a second enemy ship, scuttling of a third, destruction of two German Radio-weather stations and capture of 60 Germans. December 14, 1944. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Black and white photograph of World War II (1939-1945) showing the aerial view of the Allied sea invasion of Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944.

A Tank Goes For A Swim - A Sherman Tank Wades Towards the Shore. A choppy sea, but the hull of the Sherman tank has been sealed with fabric plastic compound and paint. Crew and equipment keep dry during the sea journey. At its rear, like a large-sized periscope, is a steel exhaust chute. January 10, 1950. (Photo by Paul Popper).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War DUKWs or 'Ducks' ply their way between the beach and a Landing Craft Tank (LCT 952) during the landing by Royal Marine Commandos on the island of Walcheren at Westkapelle, the most western point of the island, during the final phase of the battle to free the Belgian port of Antwerp. Dark smoke is hanging high in the air whilst what appears to be the remnants of a smoke screen is lingering on the beach.

Two dramatic pictures showing the last moments in the ill fated American, freighter flying enterprise. At top the vessel is seen heeling ,over flat with the mast touching the water, while below the bows of the vessel are about to be submerged . An escort vessel steams close by. Packing cases and bales litter the angry waters, part of the flying enterprise's cargo which heroio captain Carlsen tried so much to save. A short time before these pictures were taken Captain Carslen and Mr Kenneth Dancy, mate of the Turmoil, had leaped overboard from the stricken freighter's funnel and were picked up by the Turmoil. January 11,1952.

The Regina Margherita battleship from the Royal Navy (Regia Marina) combat ready during Italian military exercises in the Ionian Sea, Italy, photograph by Luigi Deciani, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXIV, No 41, October 13, 1907.

Pearl Harbor Attack, Hawaii. USS West Virginia aflame. Disregarding the dangerous possibilities of explosions, United States sailors man their boats at the side of the burning battleship, USS West Virginia, to better fight the flames started by Japanese torpedoes and bombs. Note the national colors flying against the smoke-blackened sky

12/31/1945. Views of the Santa Clara hotel in Torremolinos (Málaga).

Fotocollectie Eerste Wereldoorlog. With the British navy in war time. In a drifter on patrol. Hoisting a torpedo in position for firing. 1914-1918}

Bay of Pigs, April 24, 1961. Anti-aircraft unit of the Cuban militia defending the Havana shore.

DD-839 Power , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

Chincha Islands War 1864-1866 between Spain and her former South American colonies. Bombardment of Callao, 2 May 1866, Spanish warships firing on Peruvian coastal defences. Print 1868.

World War I - German submarine (U-Boat) crews surrender to British Forces at the English port of Harwich 1918

12/06/1941. The Imperial Japanese Navy attacked, without prior declaration of war, the port of Pearl Harbor. 13 Ships and 188 Planes Destroyed and 2,403 Military and 63 Civilians Dead It was the balance of the attack that marked the entry of the United States into the War and the beginning of Hostilities in the Pacific. In the Image, destruction of the battleship Arizona.

Chilean Flag Raised In Antarctic - Naval cadets and sailors watch as the Chilean flag is run up at a new Chilean Antarctic military base on O'Higgins Land (Graham Land) when President Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, of Chile, visited the base Feb. 18. March 04, 1948. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli or the Battle of Çanakkale (Turkish: Çanakkale Savasi), took place on the Gallipoli peninsula in the Ottoman Empire (now Gelibolu in modern day Turkey) between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War. A joint British and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (Istanbul) and secure a sea route to Russia. The attempt failed, with heavy casualties on both sides. The campaign was considered one of the greatest victories of the Turks and was reflected on as a major failure by the Allies. The Gallipoli campaign resonated profoundly among all nations involved. In Turkey, the battle is perceived as a defining moment in the history of the Turkish peoplea final surge in the defence of the motherland as the ageing Ottoman Empire was crumbling. The struggle laid the grounds for the Turkish War of Independence and the foundation of the Republic of Tu

Sweden's Part In The Crisis -- Photo just received from Sweden shows an anti-aircraft gun with its detachment. February 19, 1940. (Photo by London News Agency Photos Ltd.).

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