Throughout history, war has hinged on the control of the sea.
Naval power is important to any military force. Though modern developments have largely left battleships by the wayside, it’s always fascinating to take a walk through history and learn about the massive marine hulks that once prowled the ocean in search of enemy ships.
Today, there are no active battleships currently in service with any major navy. The final battleship of the US Navy, the USS Missouri, was decommissioned in 1992. Thankfully, many of these awesome feats of engineering have been made into museum ships that tourists can explore and admire for themselves.
1
The USS Constitution, also known as ‘Old Iron-sides’, first set sail in 1797. It’s said to be the oldest commissioned vessel still afloat. Today, it is a tourist attraction you can walk aboard in the Boston Harbor.
2
The HMS Warrior, launched in 1860, was the first iron-hulled armored warship.
3
The HMS Revenge was of the British Royal Sovereign class of warships, which were built starting in 1889. They were fast, and had four mounted guns.
4
In 1906, the British commissioned the HMS Dreadnought, which was the first battleship with steam turbines. Its arsenal of big guns set the standard for ships to follow.
5
The HMS Valiant, of the Queen Elizabeth class, was the most modern ship of the British armada in 1914. They were 50% larger than the dreadnought and allowed Britain to blockade Germany during World War I.
6
The Japanese battleship Nagato was commissioned in 1920 and served all the way through World War II. It was eventually sunk in a nuclear test by the US in 1946.
7
USS Tennessee, commissioned in 1920. She survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor without serious damage.
8
In 1936, Japan built two Yamato-class battleships. They were the largest and most heavily armed battleships ever. Both were sunk by air attack.
9
The German battleship Bismarck was the largest ever built by Germany. It was launched in 1939 but was seen as such a threat that it was sunk in 1941.
10
The German battleship Tirpitz, camouflaged as a group of houses. 1940.
11
HMS Resolution and HMS Formidable of the British fleet sailing in the Indian Ocean sometime between 1939 and 1945.
12
USS Washington was a North Carolina-class battleship commissioned by the US in 1941.
13
King George V Class. Used by Britain during World War II. Commissioned 1942.
14
Littorio Class. These battleships were the fastest, largest, and most powerful of the Italian Navy. Commissioned in 1942.
15
This Littorio Class battleship used ‘dazzle camouflage’ to hide in plain sight.
16
The USS South Dakota was commissioned in 1942 and remained in service for 20 years.
17
The USS Missouri anchored off the coast of Korea in 1950 during the Korean war.
18
The USS Iowa, commissioned in 1943, fires a broadside to demonstrate her firepower after being reactivated and modernized in 1984.
19
The USS Missouri firing a broadside in 1988.
20
The battleship USS Missouri fires its guns during a 1990 military exercise.
21
Put into service in 2012, the USNS Spearhead is more of a military transport ship than a battleship, but it’s too cool-looking not to include.
