Dreadnought - evolution from Battleship to Battleship. The world's largest battleship. The largest battleship of World War II The largest battleships in the world

For many years, battleships were considered the most powerful combat units of the world fleet of their time. They were called "sea monsters." And this is no coincidence. Huge, fearless, with a large number of weapons on board - they carried out attack maneuvers and defended their sea borders. Dreadnoughts represented the highest level of battleship development. And she only managed to show her superiority over them. These rulers of the oceans were powerless against airplanes. They were replaced. Nevertheless, battleships have left a big mark on history, participating in important battles for hundreds of years. Let us consider the stages of development of the vessels described, starting with the first wooden sailing model and ending with the steel armored dreadnought of the latest generation.

In order not to get confused in the terminology, let’s clarify.

• Battleships were called warships whose guns could fire a one-time salvo from one side;
• Dreadnought - the first super battleship in its class, released in 1906, it was distinguished by an all-metal hull and large-caliber rotating turrets; this name became a household name for all ships of this type;
• Battleship is the name of all super-battleships with metal body.

Prerequisites for the creation of battleships

The seizure of territories and the expansion of trade zones became the basis for the financial development of many European powers. In the mid-16th century, Spain and Great Britain increasingly clashed off the coast of the New World - the struggle for territory forced them to improve the fleet, which had to not only transport valuable cargo, but also be able to protect its property. The turning point for England was the victory over the Armada in 1588. With the development of trade relations and colonization, it became clear that the sea was the source of the future wealth and power of the country, which must be protected.

Some merchant ships were converted into combat ships - guns and other weapons were installed on them. At this point, no one was holding to the same standards. Such heterogeneity had a negative effect during collisions on the high seas. The battle was won due to fortunate coincidences, and not as a result of planned tactical maneuvers. For unconditional victories it was necessary to improve naval forces.

The understanding that a warship can be more effective in conjunction with others led to more than just the creation of new tactics for conducting naval battles. But the ships themselves also changed, namely the location of the guns on them. Also a system of communication between ships, without which wake tactics are impossible.

Linear tactics at the Battle of Gabbard (1653)

The first positive experience of conducting linear combat was recorded in 1653. The wake arrangement of the English ships, one after the other, easily made it possible to repulse the first attack of the Netherlands, which also lost two ships. The next day, Dutch Admiral Maarten Tromp again gave the order to advance. This became his fatal mistake; the fleet was destroyed. 6 ships were sunk, 11 were captured. England did not lose a single ship, and also gained control of the English Channel.

Wake column is a type of battle formation of ships in which the bow of the next ship looks exactly into the plane of the ship in front.

Battle of Beachy Head (1690)

In July 1690, a collision occurred between French and allied (England, Holland) ships. French Admiral Tourville led 70 battleships, which he placed in three rows:

• The first line - the vanguard, consisted of 22 battleships;
• The second is a corps de battle, 28 vessels;
• Third - rearguard, 20 battleships.

The enemy also lined up his weapons in three rows. It consisted of 57 battleships, which were many times greater than the French in terms of artillery. However, Tourville's tactics managed to achieve an undisputed victory without losing a single ship. The Allies lost 16 battleships, and another 28 were seriously damaged.

This battle allowed the French to take control of the English Channel, which threw the English fleet into confusion. A few days later they regained their maritime borders. The Battle of Beachy Head went down in history as one of the largest battles of sailing battleships.

Battle of Trafalgar (1805)

During Napoleon's reign, the French-Spanish fleet met fierce resistance from the British naval forces. Not far from Cape Trafalgar in the Atlantic Ocean, the Allies lined up ships in a linear pattern - in three rows. However, bad weather conditions and the onset of a storm did not allow for long-distance combat. Having analyzed the situation, the English Admiral Nelson, who was on board the battleship Victoria, ordered the ships to be grouped into two columns.

Further battle tactics of the British Royal Navy turned out to be more successful. None of the ships were sunk, although many were seriously damaged. The Allies lost 18 sailing ships, 17 of which were captured. The commander of the English fleet was wounded. On the first day of the battle, a French gunner on the battleship Redoutable fired a musket. The bullet hit him in the shoulder. Nelson was taken to the infirmary, but he could not be cured.

The advantages of this tactic became obvious. All ships form a living wall with high fire potential. When approaching the enemy, the first ship in the column attacks the target, as does each subsequent battleship. Thus, the enemy comes under a strong onslaught, which is no longer interrupted by reloading the guns as was the case before.

Wake column during a review on the Black Sea, 1849

The first battleships

The predecessors of battleships were galleons - large multi-deck merchant ships with artillery on board. In 1510, England built the first artillery ship, called "". Despite the large number of guns, it was still considered the main type of fighting. The Mary Rose was equipped with special nets that prevented enemy penetration on deck. This was a period when, at the time of a naval battle, ships were positioned haphazardly, as a result of which the artillery could not fully demonstrate its capabilities. Cannons from distant ships could even hit their own ships. Often the main weapon against a similar heap of enemy naval forces became an old ship, which was filled with explosive substances, set on fire and sent towards the enemy.

At the end of the 16th century, during another battle, the ships first lined up in a wake column - one after another. It took about 100 years for the world fleet to recognize this arrangement of warships as the most optimal. Each combat unit at this moment could use its artillery for its intended purpose. However, the variety of ships, most of them converted from merchant ships, did not make it possible to create an ideal line. There were always vulnerable ships in the row, as a result of which the battle could be lost.

HMS Prince Royal 1610

In 1610, the first three-decker battleship, HMS Prince Royal, was built in Great Britain, which had 55 guns on board. A few decades later, another similar combat vehicle appeared in England's arsenal, already including 100 pieces of artillery. In 1636, France commissioned the "" with 72 guns. A naval arms race has begun between European countries. The main indicators of combat effectiveness were the number of weapons, speed and ability to maneuver operationally.

"La Couronne" 1636

The new ships were shorter than their galleon predecessors and lighter. This means that they could quickly get into line, turning sideways towards the enemy to launch an attack. Such tactics created an advantage against the backdrop of random firing from the enemy. With the development of military shipbuilding, the firepower of a combat vessel also increased. The artillery increased its number and impact force.

Over time, new combat units began to be divided into classes that differed in the number of weapons:

• Vessels with up to 50 pieces of artillery located on two closed gun decks were not included in combat squadrons for conducting linear battles. They served as an escort during the convoy.
• Double-decker ships, with up to 90 units of fire equipment on board, formed the basis of the majority of the military forces of maritime powers.
• Three- and four-decker ships, including from 98 to 144 guns, served as flagships.

The first Russian battleship

Tsar Peter I made a great contribution to the development of Russia, especially in the field of naval forces. Under him, the construction of the first Russian warships began. After studying shipbuilding in Europe, he went to the Voronezh shipyard and began building a battleship, later named Goto Predestination. The sailing ship was equipped with 58 cannons and was similar in design to its British counterparts. A distinctive feature was a slightly shorter hull and a reduced draft. This was due to the fact that “Goto Predestination” was intended for service in the shallow Azov Sea.

In 2014, it was built in Voronezh exact copy battleship from the time of Peter I, today it is used as a floating museum.

Arms race

Along with the development of shipbuilding, smooth-bore artillery also evolved. It was necessary to increase the size of the cores and create new types of exploding projectiles. Increasing the flight range helped position their ships at a safe distance. Accuracy and rate of fire contributed to a faster and more successful completion of the battle.

The 17th century was marked by the emergence of standardization of naval weapons in caliber and barrel length. Gun ports - special holes in the sides, allowed the use of powerful guns, which correct location did not interfere with the stability of the ship. The main task of such equipment was to inflict maximum damage on the crew. After this, the ship was boarded.

It was almost impossible to sink a wooden ship. Only in the 19th century did the production of new heavy shells begin, carrying large amounts of explosives. These innovations changed battle tactics. Now the target was not people, but the ship itself. There was a possibility of its sinking. At the same time, wear and tear on equipment (artillery) was still very rapid, and repairs were expensive. The need to create more modern weapons increased.

The production of rifled artillery in the 19th century marked another leap in the field of naval armament. It had the following advantages:

• Shooting accuracy has improved;
• The range of the projectiles increased, which marked the prospect of combat over long distances;
• It became possible to use heavier projectiles that contained explosives inside.

It should be noted that before the appearance electronic systems artillery guidance still had low accuracy, since mechanical devices had many errors and inaccuracies.

The weapons were used not only for firing at enemy ships. Before launching an assault on the enemy coast, the battleships carried out artillery preparation - this is how they ensured the safe exit of their soldiers to foreign soil.

The first battleship - metal hull plating

An increase in the firing power of naval artillery forced shipbuilders to strengthen the hull of a combat vessel. High quality wood, usually oak, was used for production. Before use, it was dried and stood for several years. To ensure strength, the ship's plating consisted of two layers - external and internal. The underwater part of the hull was additionally covered with a soft layer of wood, protecting the main structure from rotting. This layer was updated periodically. Subsequently, the bottoms of wooden ships began to be lined with copper.

H.M.S. « Victory » 1765

A prominent representative of the 18th century battleship with metal casing The underwater part is the British battleship Victoria (HMS). Due to England's participation in the Seven Years' War, its construction was delayed for many years. But this period contributed to the production of high-quality raw materials for construction - wood began to have excellent characteristics. The underwater part of the ship was lined with copper plates attached to wood with iron nails.

Any ship of that period had a significant drawback - no matter how well the bottom of the ship was made, water still seeped inside, rotting occurred, which gave off an unpleasant odor. Therefore, from time to time the captain of the Victoria sent sailors to the lower part of the hull to pump out water.

Over the years of service, weapons changed their number and size several times. At the beginning of the 19th century it included 104 guns of various calibers. Each gun was assigned 7 people to ensure the operation of the equipment.

"Victoria" took part in most of the naval battles that took place during her years of service. One of the most striking was the Battle of Trafalgar. It was on this ship that the commander of the British fleet, Vice Admiral Nelson, was mortally wounded.

It is noteworthy that this ship can still be seen today. In 1922 it was restored and installed in Portsmouth as a museum.

Steam propulsion

Further development of battleships required improved seaworthiness. Sailing ships gradually became obsolete, because they could only move with a good wind. In addition, increased artillery power made sailing equipment more vulnerable. The period of steam engines powered by coal began. The first samples were equipped with paddle wheels, which, although they provided the movement of the vessel, their speed was very low and was suitable for river navigation or at sea in absolute calm. However new installation interested the military forces of many countries. Testing of steam engines began.

Replacing paddle wheels with propellers helped increase the speed of steamships. Now even a ship with a steam engine, small in size and armament, was superior to a huge sailing ship of the line. The first one could swim up from any direction, regardless of the strength and direction of the wind, and launch an attack. At this time, the second continued to intensively fight natural phenomena.

They tried to equip ships built after the 40s of the 19th century with steam engines. Among the first countries to begin building military ships with heavy artillery on board were the USA, Great Britain and France.

In 1852, France built its first screw-driven ship of the line, but retained the sailing system. Equipping with a steam engine forced the number of artillery to be reduced to 90 guns. But this was justified due to improved seaworthiness - the speed reached 13.5 knots, which was considered a very high figure. Over the next 10 years, about 100 similar ships were built around the world.

Armadillos

The appearance of shells filled with explosives required an urgent renewal of the ship's personnel. There was a risk of major damage and burnout of a significant part of the wooden body. After a couple of dozen successful hits, the ship sank under the water. In addition, the installation of steam engines on the ship increased the risk of immobilization and subsequent flooding if at least one enemy shell hit the engine room. It was necessary to protect the most vulnerable parts of the hull with steel sheets. Later, the entire ship began to be made of metal, which required a complete redesign. The armor took up a significant portion of the vessel's displacement. In order to maintain the same amount of artillery, it was necessary to increase the size of the battleship.

A further development of battleships were squadron battleships with an all-metal hull, which became widespread at the end of the 19th century. They had a powerful armor belt that protected them from enemy shells. Armament included 305 mm, 234 mm and 152 mm artillery. It was assumed that such a variety of equipment would have a positive effect during combat. Experience has shown that such a statement was erroneous. Simultaneous control of guns of different calibers caused many difficulties, especially when adjusting the fire.

First battleship - Dreadnought

The crown of all previous types of battleships was the super-battleship Dreadnought, built by Great Britain in 1906. He became the founder of a new class of battleships. It was the first ship in the world to carry a large number of heavy weapons. The rule “all-big-gun” was followed - “only big guns.”

There were 10 units of 305 mm artillery on board. The steam turbine system, installed for the first time on a battleship, made it possible to increase the speed to 21 knots - incredible figures in those years. The hull's protection was inferior to that of the Lord Nelson-class battleships that preceded it, but all other innovations created a real sensation.

Battleships built after 1906 on the “all-big-gun” principle began to be called dreadnoughts. They played an important role during the First World War. Each maritime power sought to have at least one dreadnought-type ship in service. The USA and Great Britain have become the undisputed leaders in the number of such vessels. However, the 40s of the 20th century and naval battles involving aviation showed the vulnerability of sea giants.

Battle of Jutland (1916)

The most famous battle involving dreadnoughts took place off the coast of the Jutland Peninsula. For two days, German and British battleships tested their strength and capabilities. As a result, each side declared victory. Germany argued that whoever had the heaviest losses lost. The Royal Navy believed that the winner was the country that did not withdraw from the battlefield.

Regardless of the outcome, this battle became a huge experience, which was later studied in detail. The construction of all subsequent world dreadnoughts was based on it. All shortcomings were taken into account, the most vulnerable places on the ship were recorded, in which the reservation should be strengthened. Also, the knowledge gained forced the designers to change the location of the main caliber turrets. Despite the fact that a large number of weapons were involved in the battle, this clash did not in any way affect the outcome of the First World War.

The end of the battleship era

The attack of the Imperial Japanese Navy on the American base of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 showed the unviability of battleships. Huge, clumsy and vulnerable to attack from the air - their heavy weapons, which hit tens of kilometers, became useless. The sinking of several pieces of equipment blocked the possibility of other warships going to sea. As a result of this, a significant part of modern battleships was lost.

The end of World War II marked the final end of the era of battleships. Last years battles showed that these ships cannot defend themselves against submarines. They were replaced by even more powerful and gigantic ones, carrying dozens of aircraft.

At the same time, the dreadnoughts were not immediately written off; their gradual replacement was necessary. Thus, in 1991, the last American battleships Missouri and Wisconsin, built during the Second World War, made a trip to the Persian Gulf, where they fired Tomahawk cruise missiles. In 1992, the Missouri was withdrawn from service. In 2006, the last dreadnought in the world, the Wisconsin, also left service.

The battleship is a heavy warship with large-caliber turret artillery and strong armor protection that existed in the first half of the 20th century. It was intended to destroy ships of all types, incl. armored and actions against coastal fortresses. A distinction was made between squadron battleships (for combat on the high seas) and coastal defense battleships (for operations in coastal areas).

Of the numerous battleship fleets remaining after the First World War, only 7 countries used them in the Second World War. All of them were built before the outbreak of the First World War, and in the period between the wars many were modernized. And only the coastal defense battleships of Denmark, Thailand and Finland were built in 1923-1938.

Coastal defense battleships became a logical development of monitors and gunboats. They were distinguished by their moderate displacement, shallow draft, and were armed with large-caliber artillery. They have received noticeable development in Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Russia and France.

A typical battleship of that time was a ship with a displacement of 11 to 17 thousand tons, capable of speeds of up to 18 knots. The power plant on all battleships was triple expansion steam engines, operating on two (less often three) shafts. The main caliber of the guns is 280-330 mm (and even 343 mm, later replaced by 305 mm with a longer barrel), the armor belt is 229-450 mm, rarely more than 500 mm.

Estimated number of battleships and ironclads used in the war by country and type of ship

Countries	Types of ships (total/dead)		Total
	Armadillos	Battleships
1	2	3	4
Argentina	—	2	2
Brazil	—	2	2
Great Britain	—	17/3	17/3
Germany	3/3	4/3	7/6
Greece	3/2	—	3/2
Denmark	2/1	—	2/1
Italy	—	7/2	7/2
Norway	4/2	—	4/2
USSR	—	3	3
USA	—	25/2	25/2
Thailand	2/1	—	2/1
Finland	2/1	—	2/1
France	—	7/5	7/5
Chile	—	1	1
Sweden	8/1	—	8/1
Japan	—	12/11	12/11
TOTAL	24/11	80/26	104/37

A battleship (battleship) is a class of the largest armored artillery warships with a displacement from 20 to 70 thousand tons, a length from 150 to 280 m, armed with main caliber guns from 280 to 460 mm, with a crew of 1500 - 2800 people. Battleships were used to destroy enemy ships as part of a combat formation and provide artillery support for ground operations. They were an evolutionary development of armadillos.

The bulk of the battleships that took part in World War II were built before the start of World War I. During 1936 - 1945, only 27 battleships of the latest generation were built: 10 in the USA, 5 in Great Britain, 4 in Germany, 3 each in France and Italy, 2 in Japan. And in none of the fleets did they live up to the hopes placed on them. Battleships from a means of warfare at sea turned into an instrument of big politics, and the continuation of their construction was no longer determined by tactical expediency, but by completely different motives. Having such ships for the prestige of the country in the first half of the twentieth century meant about the same as having nuclear weapons now.

Second World War became the decline of battleships, as a new weapon was established at sea, the range of which was an order of magnitude greater than the longest-range guns of battleships - aviation, deck and coastal. At the final stage of the war, the functions of battleships were reduced to artillery bombardment of coasts and protection of aircraft carriers. The world's largest battleships, the Japanese Yamato and Musashi, were sunk by aircraft without ever meeting with similar enemy ships. In addition, it turned out that battleships are very vulnerable to attacks by submarines and aircraft.

Performance characteristics of the best examples of battleships

Vehicle performance characteristics/Country and type of ship	England George V	Germ. Bismarck	Italy Littorio	USA	France Richelieu	Japan Yamato
Displacement standard, thousand tons.	36,7	41,7	40,9	49,5	37,8	63.2
Total displacement, thousand tons	42,1	50,9	45,5	58,1	44,7	72.8
Length, m.	213-227	251	224	262	242	243-260
Width, m.	31	36	33	33	33	37
Draft, m	10	8,6	9,7	11	9,2	10,9
Side reservation, mm.	356 -381	320	70 + 280	330	330	410
Deck armor, mm.	127 -152	50 — 80 + 80 -95	45 +	37 + 153-179	150-170 + 40	35-50 + 200-230
Main caliber turret armor, mm.	324 -149	360-130	350-280	496-242	430-195	650
Reservation of the conning tower, mm.	76 — 114	220-350	260	440	340	500
Power of power plants, thousand hp	110	138	128	212	150	150
Maximum travel speed, knots.	28,5	29	30	33	31	27,5
Maximum range, thousand miles	6	8,5	4,7	15	10	7,2
Fuel reserve, thousand tons oil	3,8	7,4	4,1	7,6	6,9	6,3
Main caliber artillery	2x4 and 1x2 356 mm	4x2 - 380 mm	3×3 381 mm	3x3 - 406 mm	2×4- 380 mm	3×3 -460 mm
Auxiliary caliber artillery	8x2 - 133 mm	6x2 - 150 mm and 8x2 - 105 mm	4x3 - 152 mm and 12x1 - 90 mm	10×2 - 127 mm	3×3-152 mm and 6×2 100 mm	4×3 - 155 mm and 6×2 -127 mm
Flak	4x8 - 40 mm	8×2 – 37 mm and 12×1 - 20 mm	8×2 and 4×1 – 37 mm and 8×2 –	15x4 - 40 mm, 60x1 - 20 mm	4x2 - 37 mm 4x2 and 2x2 – 13.2mm	43×3 -25 mm and 2x2 – 13.2mm
Main battery firing range, km	35,3	36,5	42,3	38,7	41,7	42
Number of catapults, pcs.	1	2	1	2	2	2
Number of seaplanes, pcs.	2	4	2	3	3	7
Crew number, people.	1420	2100	1950	1900	1550	2500

Iowa-class battleships are considered the most advanced ships in the history of shipbuilding. It was during their creation that designers and engineers managed to achieve the maximum harmonious combination of all the main combat characteristics: weapons, speed and protection. They put an end to the development of the evolution of battleships. They can be considered an ideal project.

The rate of fire of the battleship's guns was two rounds per minute, and independent fire was ensured for each gun in the turret. Of her contemporaries, only the Japanese superbattleships Yamato had a heavier main gun salvo weight. Firing accuracy was ensured by the artillery fire control radar, which gave an advantage over Japanese ships without radar installations.

The battleship had an air target detection radar and two surface target detection radars. The altitude range when firing at aircraft reached 11 kilometers with a stated rate of fire of 15 rounds per minute, and control was carried out using radar. The ship was equipped with a set of automatic friend-foe identification equipment, as well as radio reconnaissance and radio countermeasures systems.

The performance characteristics of the main types of battleships and battleships by country are outlined below.

Battleship - Battleship:

in a broad sense, a ship intended for combat operations as part of a squadron;

in the traditional meaning (also abbreviated as battleship), - a class of heavy armored artillery warships with a displacement of 20 to 70 thousand tons, a length of 150 to 280 m, with a main gun caliber of 280-460 mm, with a crew of 1500-2800 people.

Battleships were used in the 20th century to destroy enemy ships as part of a combat formation and provide artillery support for ground operations. They were an evolutionary development of armadillos in the second half of the nineteenth century.

origin of name

Battleship is a common abbreviation of the term "ship of the line." This is how a new type of ship was named in Russia in 1907 in memory of the ancient wooden sailing ships of the line. It was initially assumed that the new ships would revive linear tactics, but this was soon abandoned.

The English-language incomplete analogue of the Russian term “battleship” - battleship (literally: warship) originated in a similar way - the English term denoting a sailing battleship. In 1794, the term line-of-battle ship was abbreviated as battle ship. Later it was used in relation to any warship. Since the late 1880s, unofficially in the Royal British Navy it has most often been applied to squadron battleships. In 1892, the reclassification of the British Navy named the class of super-heavy ships with the word “battleship”, which included several particularly heavy squadron battleships.

Dreadnoughts. "Big Guns Only"

The founder of a new breakthrough in the development of large artillery ships is considered to be British Admiral John Arbuthnot Fisher. Back in 1899, while commanding the Mediterranean squadron, he noted that firing with the main caliber could be carried out over a much greater distance if one was guided by the splashes from falling shells. But the requirement forced the unification of all artillery in order to avoid confusion in determining the bursts of main-caliber and medium-caliber artillery shells. Thus was born the concept of “only big guns” (orig. “all-big-guns”), which formed the basis of a new type of ship. The effective firing range increased from 10-15 to 90-120 cables (i.e., almost an order of magnitude!).

Other innovations that formed the basis of the new type of ship were centralized fire control from a single general ship post and the massive use of electric drives and ship telecommunications (in particular telephone), which increased the speed and accuracy of targeting heavy guns. The guns themselves were greatly improved due to the transition to smokeless gunpowder and the manufacture of guns from high-strength steels. Now, for shooting, only the lead ship was enough, and those following it in the wake were guided by the splashes from its shells. Thus, building in wake columns again made it possible in Russia in 1907 to return the term battleship. In the USA, England and France, the term “battleship” was not revived, and new ships continued to be called “battleship” or “cuirassé”. In Russia, “battleship” remained the official term, but in practice the abbreviation “battleship” was adopted.

The Russo-Japanese War finally established the superiority in speed and range of artillery as the main advantages in naval battle. Discussions about a new type of ship took place in many countries. For example, in Italy Vittorio Cuniberti came up with the idea of ​​a new battleship, and in the USA the construction of ships of the Michigan type was planned, but the British managed to get ahead of everyone due to industrial and technological superiority.

The first such ship was the English Dreadnought, whose name became a household name for all ships of this class. The ship was built in record time, leaving for sea trials on September 2, 1906, a year and one day after the official laying. The Dreadnought, with a displacement of 22,500 tons, could reach a speed of up to 22 knots thanks to a new type of power plant - a steam turbine - used for the first time on such a large ship. The Dreadnought was equipped with 10 305 mm caliber guns (due to the rush, the ship was equipped with two-gun turrets of the squadron battleships built in 1904, which were being completed). The second caliber of the Dreadnought was anti-mine - 27 76 mm guns. There was no medium-caliber artillery. The main side armor of the Dreadnought included two separate armor belts: the waterline was protected by 279 mm plates, above which there was 203 mm armor up to the level of the middle deck. The horizontal armor consisted of two armored decks covering the upper and lower edges of the side armor belt. The upper armored deck of the Dreadnought, located at the level of its middle deck, extended from the stem to the aft beam and was a deck made of 18-mm soft steel plates. Below it, at the level of the lower deck, between the bow and stern barbettes, ran the main armored deck, which consisted of two layers (25 + 18 mm) of soft armor steel. At a distance of about 3 m from the outer side, it smoothly descended in the form of a bevel to the lower edge of the main armor belt. The turrets of the 12-inch guns were protected by 279 mm armor on the front and sides, had a 76 mm roof and a 330 mm rear. There was no solid armored longitudinal bulkhead. Its function was performed by protective 51-mm armor screens located in the area of ​​the artillery magazines.

The appearance of the Dreadnought made all other large armored ships obsolete. This played into the hands of Germany, which began building a large navy, because now it could immediately begin building new ships.

Battleships first appeared in the 17th century. For some time they lost the palm to slow-moving battleships. But at the beginning of the 20th century, battleships became the main force of the fleet. The speed and range of artillery pieces became the main advantages in naval battles. Countries concerned about increasing the power of the navy, since the 1930s of the 20th century, began to actively build super-powerful battleships designed to enhance superiority at sea. Not everyone could afford the construction of incredibly expensive ships. The largest battleships in the world - in this article we will talk about super-powerful giant ships.

10 Richelieu Length 247.9 m

The ranking of the largest battleships in the world opens with the French giant Richelieu, with a length of 247.9 meters and a displacement of 47 thousand tons. The ship was named in honor of the famous French statesman Cardinal Richelieu. A battleship was built to counter the Italian navy. The battleship Richelieu did not conduct active combat operations, except for participation in the Senegalese operation in 1940. In 1968, the supership was scrapped. One of his guns is installed as a monument in the port of Brest.

9 Bismarck Length 251 m

The legendary German ship Bismarck ranks 9th among the largest battleships in the world. The length of the vessel is 251 meters, displacement – ​​51 thousand tons. Bismarck left the shipyard in 1939. German Fuhrer Adolf Hitler was present at its launching. One of the most famous ships of the Second World War was sunk in May 1941 after prolonged fighting by British ships and torpedo bombers in retaliation for the destruction of the British flagship, the cruiser Hood, by a German battleship.

8 Tirpitz Ship 253.6 m

In 8th place on the list of the largest battleships is the German Tirpitz. The length of the vessel was 253.6 meters, displacement - 53 thousand tons. After the death of her “elder brother,” Bismarck, the second of the most powerful German battleships practically did not manage to take part in naval battles. Launched in 1939, the Tirpitz was destroyed in 1944 by torpedo bombers.

7 Yamato Length 263 m

Yamato is one of the largest battleships in the world and the largest warship in history ever sunk in a naval battle. "Yamato" (in translation the name of the ship means ancient name Countries rising sun) was the pride of the Japanese Navy, although due to the fact that the huge ship was being taken care of, the attitude of ordinary sailors towards it was ambiguous. Yamato entered service in 1941. The length of the battleship was 263 meters, displacement - 72 thousand tons. Crew – 2500 people. Until October 1944, Japan's largest ship practically did not participate in battles. In Leyte Gulf, the Yamato opened fire on American ships for the first time. As it turned out later, none of the main calibers hit the target. The last voyage of the pride of Japan On April 6, 1945, the Yamato set out on its last voyage. American troops landed on Okinawa, and the remnants of the Japanese fleet were given the task of destroying enemy forces and supply ships. The Yamato and the rest of the formation's vessels came under a two-hour attack by 227 American deck ships. Japan's largest battleship went out of action, receiving about 23 hits from aerial bombs and torpedoes. As a result of the explosion of the bow compartment, the ship sank. Of the crew, 269 people survived, 3 thousand sailors died.

6 Musashi Length 263 m

The largest battleships in the world include the Musashi, with a hull length of 263 meters and a displacement of 72 thousand tons. This is the second giant battleship built by Japan during World War II. The ship entered service in 1942. The fate of "Musashi" turned out to be tragic. The first trip ended with a hole in the bow caused by a torpedo attack by an American submarine. In October 1944, Japan's two largest battleships finally engaged in serious combat. In the Sibuyan Sea they were attacked by American aircraft. By chance, the enemy's main blow was delivered to Musashi. The ship sank after being hit by about 30 torpedoes and aerial bombs. Along with the ship, its captain and more than a thousand crew members died. On March 4, 2015, 70 years after the sinking, the sunken Musashi was discovered by American millionaire Paul Allen. It is located in the Sibuyan Sea at a depth of one and a half kilometers. Musashi ranks 6th on the list of the largest battleships in the world.

5 Soviet Union Length 269 m

Incredibly, the Soviet Union never built a single super battleship. In 1938, the battleship "Soviet Union" was laid down. The length of the ship was supposed to be 269 meters, and the displacement was 65 thousand tons. To the beginning of the Great Patriotic War the battleship was 19% complete. It was never possible to complete the ship, which could have become one of the largest battleships in the world.

4 Wisconsin Length 270 m

The American battleship Wisconsin is ranked 4th in the ranking of the largest battleships in the world. It was 270 meters long and had a displacement of 55 thousand tons. It went into operation in 1944. During World War II, he accompanied aircraft carrier groups and supported landing operations. Was deployed during the Gulf War. Wisconsin is one of the last battleships in the US Navy Reserve. Was decommissioned in 2006. The ship is now docked in Norfolk.

3 Iowa Length 270 m

The American battleship Iowa, with a length of 270 meters and a displacement of 58 thousand tons, ranks 3rd in the ranking of the largest battleships in the world. The ship entered service in 1943. During World War II, Iowa actively participated in combat operations. In 2012, the battleship was withdrawn from the fleet. Now the ship is in the port of Los Angeles as a museum.

2 New Jersey Length 270.53 m

Second place in the ranking of the largest battleships in the world is occupied by the American ship New Jersey, or Black Dragon. Its length is 270.53 meters. Refers to the Iowa-class battleships. Left the shipyard in 1942. The New Jersey is a true veteran of naval battles and the only ship that took part in the Vietnam War. Here he performed the role of supporting the army. After 21 years of service, it was withdrawn from the fleet in 1991 and received museum status. Now the ship is parked in the city of Camden.

1 Missouri Length 271 m

The American battleship Missouri tops the list of the largest battleships in the world. It is interesting not only because of its impressive size (the length of the ship is 271 meters), but also because it is the last American battleship. In addition, the Missouri went down in history due to the fact that the surrender of Japan was signed on board in September 1945. The supership was launched in 1944. Its main task was to escort Pacific aircraft carrier formations. Participated in the Gulf War, where he opened fire for the last time. In 1992, he was withdrawn from the US Navy. Since 1998, the Missouri has had the status of a museum ship. The parking lot of the legendary ship is located in Pearl Harbor. Being one of the most famous warships in the world, it has been featured more than once in documentaries and feature films. High hopes were placed on super-powerful ships. It is characteristic that they never justified themselves. Here is an illustrative example of the largest battleships ever built by man - the Japanese battleships Musashi and Yamato. They were both defeated by an attack by American bombers, without having time to fire at enemy ships from their main calibers. However, if they met in battle, the advantage would still be on the side of the American fleet, which by that time was equipped with ten battleships against two Japanese giants.

To fully understand the picture: a battleship is a class of heavy armored artillery warships with a displacement of 20 to 70 thousand tons, a length of 150 to 280 m, with a main caliber gun of 280-460 mm, with a crew of 1500-2800 people.

Battleships became an evolutionary development of battleships in the second half of the 19th century. But before they were sunk, written off, and turned into museums, the ships had to go through a lot. Let's talk about this.

Richelieu

• Length - 247.9 m
• Displacement - 47 thousand tons

Named after the famous French statesman Cardinal Richelieu. It was built with the aim of stopping the raging Italian fleet. I never saw real combat, except for participation in the Senegalese operation in 1940. Sadness: in 1968, “Richelieu” was sent for scrap. Only one of his guns survived and was installed in the port of Brest as a monument.

Source: wikipedia.org

Bismarck

• Length - 251 m
• Displacement - 51 thousand tons

Left the shipyard in 1939. The Fuhrer of the entire Third Reich, Adolf Hitler himself, was present at the launch. The Bismarck is one of the most famous ships of World War II. He heroically destroyed the English flagship, the cruiser Hood. He paid for this just as heroically: they organized a real hunt for the battleship, and finally caught it. In May 1941, British ships and torpedo bombers sank Bismarck after a long battle.

Source: wikipedia.org

Tirpitz

• Length - 253.6 m
• Displacement - 53 thousand tons

Although the second largest battleship of Nazi Germany was launched in 1939, it was practically unable to take part in real battles. By his presence, he simply kept the hands of the Arctic convoy of the USSR and the British fleet tied. In 1944, Tirpitz was sunk as a result of an air raid. And then with the help of special super-heavy bombs like Tallboy.

Source: wikipedia.org

Yamato

• Length - 263 m
• Crew - 2500 people

Yamato is one of the largest battleships in the world and the largest warship in history ever sunk in a naval battle. Until October 1944, he practically did not participate in battles. So, “little things”: he fired at American ships.

On April 6, 1945, he went out on another campaign, the goal was to confront the Yankee troops that had landed on Okinawa. As a result, for 2 hours in a row, the Yamato and other Japanese ships were in hell - they were fired upon by 227 American deck ships. The largest battleship in Japan caught 23 hits from aerial bombs and torpedoes → the bow compartment exploded → the ship sank. Of the crew, 269 people survived, 3 thousand sailors died.

Source: wikipedia.org

Musashi

• Length - 263 m
• Displacement - 72 thousand tons

The second largest Japanese ship from World War II. Launched in 1942. The fate of “Musashi” is tragic:

• the first trip - a hole in the bow (torpedo attack by an American submarine);
• last trip (October 1944, in the Sibuyan Sea) - came under attack by American planes, caught 30 torpedoes and aerial bombs;
• Along with the ship, its captain and more than a thousand crew members died.

On March 4, 2015, 70 years after its death, the sunken Musashi in the waters of Sibuyan was discovered by American millionaire Paul Allen. The battleship rested at a depth of one and a half kilometers.

Source: wikipedia.org

Soviet Union

• Length - 269 m
• Displacement - 65 thousand tons

Sovki did not build battleships. They tried only once - in 1938 they began to lay down the “Soviet Union” (Project 23 battleship). By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the ship was 19% ready. But the Germans began to actively advance, and terribly frightened Soviet politicians. The latter, with trembling hands, signed a decree to stop the construction of the battleship, and threw all their efforts into stamping the “thirty-fours.” After the war, the ship was dismantled for metal.