Category: Ship stories
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Neutrality of HMS Leander in the Bombardment of Valparaíso
On March 31, 1866, the people of Valparaíso woke to an astonishing sight — a Spanish fleet, with its ironclad hulls glinting under the sun, ready to unleash fire upon their city. This was an attack that shocked the world, and amidst the chaos sat HMS Leander, a British warship tasked with maintaining neutrality (and…
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The Legacy of HMS Dorsetshire
Today we will be spotlighting HMS Dorsetshire, a heavy cruiser of the British Royal Navy, which has played a significant role in naval operations during the early years of World War II. Commissioned in September 1930, she was the second (and final ship) of the Norfolk subclass within the County-class cruisers. Named after the English…
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The Legacy of HMS Birmingham
This week, we will be spotlighting HMS Birmingham. From intense battles in World War II to a dramatic rescue in China, it has carved its place in history as a formidable and versatile ship. HMS Birmingham’s Early Years Commissioned in 1937 as part of the Town-class cruisers, HMS Birmingham quickly found itself in the thick…
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The Legacy of HMS Eclipse
Hello everyone! We will be spotlighting HMS Eclipse, one of the few ships that you may have been transcribing from on our citizen-science project called Monsoon Voyages. HMS: What does it stand for? Before we jump straight into the history, you might have noticed the ship prefix “HMS”, followed by a name while transcribing the…
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Role of HMS Hornet in the Capture of Canton
The HMS Hornet, a 17-gun sloop of the Royal Navy, played a crucial role in the capture of Canton (modern-day Guangzhou) during the Second Opium War (1856–1860). Built in 1854 as part of the Royal Navy’s Cruizer-class sloops, the Hornet was equipped with a combination of sails and steam power, allowing it to operate effectively…