Sadly for Battleships , the days when battleships ruled the seas are long gone. They were simply not designed to counter the impact of aviation on naval warfare. The last time battleships were used in combat was in 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, when the USS Missouri provided fire support to ground forces. However, even today, the sight of one of these battleships is enough to shock any lover of naval warfare. These battleships are still very capable today and can easily be converted from their today's museum to combat configuration if need be. These battleships are from the 20th century, and anyone would be surprised at the level of shipbuilding back then.
1. Yamato-class (Japan)
The Yamato-class battleships were specifically designed to be the largest battleships ever built, and they still hold that title to this day - especially since no one builds them anymore.
Yamato-class battleships experimental launch in 1941
Amazingly, despite displacing over 71,000 long tons when fully loaded, the Yamato-class was still able to cruise at a speed of 27 knots. There are only two Japanese battleships of this type, Yamato and USS Musashi, both of which were sunk by U.S. Navy pilots.
2. Iowa class (United States)
Bow view of USS Iowa (BB-61) firing the Mark 7 16-inch/50 caliber gun from the starboard side during a firepower demonstration
Although dwarfed by the 57,000+ ton Yamato class , but the Iowa-class battleships first produced by the United States before World War II were not designed to fight against such a behemoth. They were supposed to fight Japan's Kongo-class battleship . As a result, these powerful vessels can sail at speeds in excess of 32 knots. As we mentioned before, the Iowa-class has a very long life. With some electronic equipment and weapons upgrades, their service life was extended until the 1990s when they were retired.
3.Bismarck Class (Germany)
The German Navy's Bismarck-class battleships were only slightly smaller than the American Iowa-class battleships, at 51,000 long tons, making them the largest battleships used by European nations. The German Navy succeeded in building only two of them, the Bismarck and the Tirpitz, both of which were sunk by the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Bismarck Class Photographed in 1940
Neither the Bismarck nor the Tirpitz lasted long. They entered service in 1940 and 1941. Bismarck entered the Atlantic to raid Allied shipping, but was sunk in her only operation in 1941. Tirpitz never sailed to the Atlantic, but instead became the core of the Baltic Fleet. The Tirpitz sank in 1944.
4. Vanguard class (UK)
Taken circa 1946-1948 Royal Navy Vanguard class battleship
The Vanguard class entered service in 1946 after the end of World War II. This makes the Vanguard class the last battleship of the Royal Navy and the last battleship ever launched. The Bismarck class was only slightly superior in size.
During World War II, the Royal Navy had built the Lion-class battleships, but planners realized they would not be completed until after the war. They decided to cobble together what they had as a Lion and equip it with cannons left over from World War I. Despite the end of the war, it was a fast and sturdy ship.
5. Richelieu class (France)
Richelieu class after modification in the United States. Photographed in September 1943.
France began building Richelieu class battleships before the outbreak of World War II, but only the Richelieu class was completed in time. Another Richelieu-class ship, the Jean Bart, was unfinished, but as France fell to the Nazis, both ships fled to French colonies in Africa. After the African colonies came under control of the pro-American French, two battleships were also taken. Richelieu was sent to the United States for repairs and upgrades (it was attacked by British fighter jets under the control of the Vichy regime) and later served in the British fleet.Jean Bart initially fought with the Allies during the Allied invasion of North Africa, but defected soon after. The United States made no attempt to complete its construction until 1955.
