Welcome To Navalpaedia
Have you ever wanted to know more about the world’s navies? Maybe you’re interested in a particular ship or type of ship, and you don’t just want to rely on Wikipedia. Navalpaedia is the website for you! My aim is to cover all of the world’s navies in a vast database housed within the Hall of Nations page, covering everything from Abkhazia to the United States. Within each page are dedicated sections to all aspects of these nations’ navies, covering the smallest armed warship to the largest and most powerful vessels on earth, both past and present.
Perhaps it’s not the ships and navies themselves you’re most interested in, but rather some of the great people that have served onboard. If so, then the Famous Figures page might interest you, where great leaders of men, famous admirals, or humble sailors with heroic stories come to life in black and white. You can read about famous battles and how the World Wars were fought at sea in the War at Sea page, from the earliest ironclad engagements of the American Civil War to the most recent conflicts, including the sinking of the Moskva in the Russo-Ukraine War of 2022.
There are also dedicated sections of naval weaponry, from the largest battleship cannons to the tiniest anti-aircraft machine guns, and everything in between. Torpedoes, mines, ASW, and ship-based missile systems are all included as well, sorted by nation and date. Then, you have the Naval Aviation zone, where a database of all naval aircraft is held, including floatplanes, carrier-based aircraft, and ship-based helicopters. Within that portal is also a guide to the weapons of these aircraft, which have had such a great impact on the way modern naval warfare is fought.
Whatever you’re most interested in about the world’s navies, it’s covered here. Feel free to begin anywhere you like but why not start with a look at how this site came to be? Find out below:
There is nothing more enticing, disenchanting, and enslaving than the life at sea.
The centrepiece of Navalpaedia is the Hall of Nations, a near-exhaustive list of world powers, and behind every flag, the naval history, and directories of every naval power in the world. A truly epic undertaking and one that will never likely be finished. Step into the Hall of Nations and begin your journey through naval history, from the earliest ironclads of the 1860s to the latest guided-missile destroyers of the modern age.
Visit the Famous Figures page to learn more about all the key individuals that had the most impact on the way naval warfare has shaped the modern world throughout the last 150 years. From key political figures to famous admirals, naval architects, and humble sailors with heroic tales, take a deeper look at their acts of heroism, critical decisions, or pioneering work that shaped their lives and those around them.
The Naval Weaponry page is the database of warfare in all its forms, from the monstrous guns fitted to mighty battleships to the smallest anti-aircraft machine guns, and everything in-between. Guides to torpedoes, ASW, mines, missiles, and other naval-based weaponry are also included in a near-exhaustive directory, sorted by nation, date, and sometimes calibre. But that’s not all, this is the hub for all types of warships, from the smallest fast attack craft to the mightiest battleships and aircraft carriers. These are sorted by type alphabetically and serve as an alternative for those who wish to study deeper one particular type of warship, rather than all the varying ships of any specific nation. Another hugely ambitious undertaking, work will likely be ever ongoing and subject to change, but for now, step inside and explore the booming world of the naval war machine.
The history of the world’s navies wouldn’t be complete without aircraft. The relentless pursuit of manned flight in the early 1900s would end up shaping not just future conflicts, but the entirety of modern warfare. From the earliest attempts at ship-based aircraft launches to the most powerful aircraft carriers of modern times, aircraft have been a critical cog in the naval machine for nearly a hundred years. On the Naval Aviation page, you’ll find a directory of all ship-based or naval support aircraft from the golden age to the present day, as well as a guide to all their armament, including torpedoes, bombs, rockets, and missiles.
From the earliest clashes between ironclads in the American Civil War and the Battle of Lissa to the most recent events surrounding the sinking of the Moskva in the Russo-Ukraine War of 2022, this section aims to cover all of the major and minor conflicts in modern naval history. Pivotal battles, major conflicts, minor skirmishes, find it all here and more besides. Also included are sections on key naval developments or conferences, such as the momentous Washington Naval Conference of 1922 that shaped all future naval developments for the next fifteen years. Take a dip into the whirlpool of naval warfare that has moulded our modern world over the last 150 years.
A good navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guarantee of peace.