List of coastal defence ships of World War II

Coastal defence ship is a catchall category for warships with overlapping characteristics and duties, grouped here for purposes of concision and comparison. They included ships variously called coastal defence ships, coastal battleships, German Küstenpanzerschiff, Kystforsvarsskib, Panserskip; the Dutch Kruiser, Pantserschip and Slagschip; and the Swedish 1:a klass Pansarbåt and Pansarskepp.

Ships of World War II

Coastal defence ships were cruiser-sized shallow-draft vessels capable of close to shore littoral and riverine operations. Some had limited blue-water capabilities. Coastal defence ships differed from earlier monitors by having a higher freeboard and usually both higher speed and secondary armament. Their construction and appearance was similar to miniaturized pre-dreadnought battleships. They carried heavier armour than cruisers or gunboats of equivalent size, were typically equipped with a main armament of two or four heavy and several lighter guns in turrets or casemates, and could steam at a higher speed than most monitors.[1][2][3][4]

In service they were mainly used as movable coastal artillery rather than instruments of sea control or fleet engagements like the battleships operated by blue-water navies. Apart from specially built coastal defence ships, some navies used various obsolescent ships in this role. The Royal Navy deployed four Majestic-class battleship as guardships in the Humber at the start of the First World War. Similarly, the U.S. Navy redesignated the Indiana and Iowa classes as "Coast Defense Battleships" in 1919. Such ships tended to be near the end of their service lives and while generally considered no longer fit for front-line service, they were still powerful enough for defensive duties in reserve situations.[1][2][3][4]

The List of ships of World War II contains major military vessels of the war, arranged alphabetically and by type. The list includes armed vessels that served during the war and in the immediate aftermath, inclusive of localized ongoing combat operations, garrison surrenders, post-surrender occupation, colony re-occupation, troop and prisoner repatriation, to the end of 1945. For smaller vessels, see also List of World War II ships of less than 1000 tons. Some uncompleted Axis ships are included, out of historic interest. Ships are designated to the country under which they operated for the longest period of the World War II, regardless of where they were built or previous service history.

Click on headers to sort column alphabetically.

Ship Country Class Type Displacement (tons) First commissioned Fate
Äran  Swedish Navy Äran coastal defence ship 3,650 7 September 1902 paid off 16 June 1947, scrapped 1961
Drottning Victoria Sverige coastal defence ship 7,125 12 March 1921 paid off 22 March 1957, scrapped 1959
Eidsvold  Royal Norwegian Navy Eidsvold coastal defence ship 4,233 1 March 1901 sunk 9 April 1940
Gustav V  Swedish Navy Sverige coastal defence ship 7,125 12 December 1922 paid off 22 March 1957, scrapped 1970
Harald Haarfagre  Royal Norwegian Navy Tordenskjold coastal defence ship 3,858 21 March 1898 captured by Germany 9 April 1940, renamed Thetis by Kriegsmarine, scrapped 1948
Ilmarinen  Finnish Navy Väinämöinen coastal defence ship 3,900 17 April 1934 sunk 13 September 1941
Independencia  Argentina Libertad riverine battleship 2,336 5 March 1892 Stricken 1951
Libertad Libertad riverine battleship 2,336 26 November 1892 paid off 1947
Manligheten  Swedish Navy Äran coastal defence ship 3,650 paid off 1950
Niels Juel  Royal Danish Navy Niels Juel coastal defence ship 3,400 23 May 1923 beached 29 August 1943, captured by Germany, sunk 3 May 1945
Norge  Royal Norwegian Navy Eidsvold coastal defence ship 4,230 7 February 1901 sunk 9 April 1940
Oscar II  Swedish Navy Oscar II coastal defence ship paid off 1950, scrapped 1974
Peder Skram  Royal Danish Navy Herluf Trolle coastal defence ship 3,494 scuttled 29 August 1943
Soerabaja  Royal Netherlands Navy Soerabaja coastal defence ship 6,530 6 October 1910 sunk 18 February 1942, raised for Japan 1942, sunk 1943
Sri Ayudhya  Royal Thai Navy Thonburi coastal defence ship 2,350 19 July 1938 sunk 1 July 1951
Sverige  Swedish Navy Sverige coastal defence ship 6,852 14 May 1917 paid off 30 January 1953, scrapped 1958
Tapperheten Äran coastal defence ship 3,650 paid off 1947, scrapped 1952
Thonburi  Royal Thai Navy Thonburi coastal defence ship 2,265 31 January 1938 wrecked 17 January 1941, refitted, struck 19 June 1959
Tordenskjold  Royal Norwegian Navy Tordenskjold coastal defence ship 3,858 21 March 1898 captured by Germany 9 April 1940, renamed Nymphe by Kriegsmarine, scrapped 1948
Väinämöinen  Finnish Navy Väinämöinen coastal defence ship 3,900 29 April 1932 to Soviet Union 29 May 1947, scrapped 1968
Wasa  Swedish Navy Äran coastal defence ship 3,650 paid off 1940, scrapped 1961

References
  1. Carrico (2007).
  2. Friedman (1987).
  3. Konstam (2003).
  4. Churchill (1923).

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