5 most “terrifying” battleships in world history

Battleships were a powerful symbol of navies in the 20th century until the end of World War II.

Battleships appeared most prominently in the two world wars.

According to the National Interest, battleships are the largest warships ever built in the world. In addition to armor, they are also equipped with large-caliber guns with a range of tens of kilometers. A single accurate round is enough to sink any warship in sight.

However, no matter how powerful, a battleship is still just a machine, requiring human operation. It is the sailors and officers on board who devise tactics and fire weapons to make the battleship’s mark in history.

It can be said that battleships are an indispensable part of history. Below are the 5 most powerful battleships according to James Holmes, Professor of Strategy at the US Naval War College.

Bismarck

Battleship Bismarck.

The battleship Bismarck was the pride of the German navy during World War II. The short-lived battleship is a topic of discussion to this day.

Considered the most powerful battleship operating in the Atlantic, the Bismarck sank the iconic battleship HMS Hood of the Royal Navy with just a single salvo.

The ship remains the largest battleship ever to serve in the German navy. Bismarck displaced more than any European battleship, except HMS Vanguard, the last battleship ever built.

Bismarck was equipped with powerful firepower including 8 380 mm guns, 12 150 mm guns and 16 SK-C/33 anti-aircraft guns.

In 1939, the German fascist navy’s Admiral, Erich Raeder, predicted that the German warship fleet would inevitably suffer the fate of “dying with honor”, and Bismarck was no exception.

During her eight-month service under the command of Captain Ernst Lindemann, Bismarck participated in a single operation, the Rheinübung. 

After sinking the heavy cruiser HMS Hood, Bismarck was pursued by dozens of British planes and warships for many days.

On May 27, 1941, British warships fired hundreds of bullets and torpedoes until the pride of the German navy sank into the sea, taking thousands of sailors with it.

Yamato

Battleship Yamato during a trial run.

The battleship Yamato was the largest warship ever to serve in the Japanese navy . Yamato was launched on August 8, 1940. The ship had a larger displacement than any other battleship in history.

The Yamato’s design focused on offensive and defensive power rather than speed. The Japanese battleship was equipped with nine large guns, up to 460 mm in caliber, with a maximum range of 46 km. By 1944, the Yamato also possessed six 155 mm guns, twenty-four 127 mm guns, and 162 25 mm anti-aircraft guns.

The ship could travel at a maximum speed of 50 km/h, lower than American battleships. Like the Bismarck, the Yamato is remembered for its relatively short life.

In the largest naval battle in history in 1944, Yamato was part of the Japanese fleet that fought off a massive US naval attack at Leyte Gulf. This was the only time the ship had the opportunity to engage enemy surface ships. Yamato hit an American escort carrier, a destroyer, and a destroyer escort.

During the battle in the Sibuyan Sea, Yamato was hit by three armor-piercing bombs from aircraft from the US Navy aircraft carrier Essex. The ship was forced to retreat under pursuit from torpedo bombers.

On April 7, 1945, the crew of the Yamato undertook a suicide mission, sailing out to sea without air cover. As a result, the Japanese super-battleship was attacked by 280 American aircraft.

The ship was hit by 10 torpedoes and 7 bombs, causing the ammunition magazine to explode. The smoke from the explosion rose 6.4 km high. The most fearsome battleship in the world remained forever at the bottom of the ocean.

Missouri

The battleship Missouri was the flagship of the US Navy during World War II.

USS Missouri is an Iowa-class battleship of the United States Navy and also the last battleship built by the United States.

The ship participated in supporting gunfire during several US amphibious operations in the Pacific during World War II.

With a powerful firepower system, the ship was once considered a fortress at sea. The battleship Missouri included 9 heavy guns of 406 mm caliber, 20 127 mm naval guns, 80 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, and 49 20 mm anti-aircraft guns.

USS Missouri was a flagship battleship of the United States Navy during World War II. The ship participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the Pacific theater, the Korean War (1950–1953), and the Gulf War.

The ship is remembered more for its political significance than its combat significance. The Iowa-class battleship was the site of the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Unconditional Surrender to the Allies.

After World War II, the ship continued to serve as a diplomatic messenger. Long-term presence in Türkiye, USS Missouri was a strong warning from US President Harry Truman to the Soviet Union. The ship was decommissioned on March 31, 1992.

Mikasa

After many restorations, Mikasa became a floating museum in Yokohama, Japan. 

Mikasa was a British-built battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the early 20th century. She participated in the Battle of the Yellow Sea on 10 August 1904 and the Battle of Tsushima on 27 May 1905 during the Russo-Japanese War. She was named after Mount Mikasa in Nara, Japan. Mikasa displaced 15,140 tons, was 131.67 metres long, and 23.23 metres wide. She was considered the best battleship of the last decades of the 19th century, thanks to her balance of firepower, speed, and defense.

The main guns were arranged in centrally positioned armoured turrets, allowing the rest of the ship to be protected by heavy Krupp armour plates.

Thanks to this design, Mikasa was able to withstand a large number of direct hits. In September 1905, the ship was sunk by a fire and explosion in the ammunition magazine. The incident claimed the lives of 339 sailors, three times the number who died in combat.

A year later, the ship was salvaged and repaired but did not participate in any more battles. Mikasa today has become a floating museum, serving tourists.

Victory

HMS Victory is the oldest surviving warship.

HMS Victory is a 104-gun warship of the Royal Navy, launched in the 18th century.

HMS Victory is famous for its role in the great battle against the Franco-Spanish fleet off Trafalgar in 1805 under the command of Admiral Nelson.

The ship fought for three decades and experienced many wars such as the French Revolution, the battles of Napoleon. In 1922, the Royal Navy transferred HMS Victory to a dock in Portsmouth, serving as a museum.

HMS Victory is the world’s oldest surviving naval vessel. Remarkably, the ship is still in service with the Royal Navy.

Sailors and officers who do not work on the ship are given other jobs, while still being recognized as members of HMS Victory. The ship attracts around 350,000 tourists each year.

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