Summary and Key Points: Before 1941, battleships were considered the pinnacle of naval power, defining naval dominance through their sheer firepower and size.

-This article ranks the top five battleships in history based on their service records and capabilities.

-The list includes the FS Bouvet, which played a key role in WWI; the German Bismarck, which gave the British Navy significant trouble in WWII; the HMS King George V, notable for its involvement in sinking the Bismarck; the massive IJN Yamato, a formidable Japanese battleship; and the USS New Jersey, the most decorated and versatile battleship in U.S. Navy history.

The Age of the Battleship, Revisted 

In the age of steel, before 1941, the world’s navies fundamentally believed that the battleship was the pinnacle of naval power. The fleet that possessed such steel leviathans were viewed as dominant forces. Arms races were defined by the quest to acquire as many as battleships as possible. 

Indeed, unlike the arms races today between nuclear arms and unmanned systems, the arms races for the best, most numerous battleships were far more elegant.

In those times, admirals across the world’s navies dreamt of set top battles across sprawling waterscapes which eventuated with their side “crossing-the-T” and decimating a rival fleet immobilized by their battleship’s superior firepower and seamanship.

5 Best Battleships of All Time 

While the Age of Battleship ended unceremoniously in 1941, when it was clear that aircraft carriers would be the best method of power projection across vast oceanic distances, there were still some marvelous battleships and battles involving those battleships during that time. Here is a ranking of the top five best battleships in history (from least to greatest). 

This list is by no means exhaustive. But this short list gives the reader an idea of what made the battleship such a staple for the world’s navies for so long. By looking not just at service records but at the size and designed capabilities of certain boats, this list was compiled. Without further delay, here is the list: 

5. FS Bouvet

Built in 1912, this was one of the icons of the French Navy in the First World War. Possessing a low-profile and single-gunned turrets at the front and stern of the great ship. When Paris joined London in developing a plan to end the stalemate on the Western Front in WW1 by breaking through the Ottoman-controlled Dardanelle Straits as a way to land ground forces on the shores of the adjacent Black Sea (to then cut the German supply lines off in the east), the Bouvet was the natural selection to lead the French side of the attacking force.

Ultimately, the war plan, devised by a young British First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, did not go as planned. The Ottoman defenses along the Dardanelles was too great. The Bouvet was lambasted by heavy Ottoman guns and ultimately sank when it collided with multiple Ottoman mines.

4. The Bismarck

In WWII, no warship gave the potent British Royal Navy headaches like the German Kriegsmarine battleship, Bismarck, did. It was the pride of Hitler’s (relatively small) fleet. This boat skipped across the water at an astonishing 31 knots (around 30 miles per hour) and had more armor than any other warship at the time.

During the Battle of the Denmark Strait in 1941, the Bismarck sank the “Pride of the Royal Navy,” the HMS Hood in one of the most embarrassing battles (for the British) ever. In fact, technically speaking, the Royal Navy had nothing to directly counter this warship. As the Air & Space Forces Magazine declared, “the British planned to fight this fearsome newcomer with team tactics.” That was precisely how this beast was slain at sea in May of 1941. The Royal Navy got its revenge for the loss of the Hood.

3. HMS King George V

Was the lead British Royal Navy battleship of a pack of British warships that sank the Bismarck. This was the first battleship of its class, launched in 1939. It had an overall length of 745 feet and a beam of 112 feet. The boat displaced upwards of 42,237 tons when fully loaded. Her range was 4,600 miles and she could travel at around 29 miles per hour. Because Britain had signed the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited the size, the King George V was more limited than what the British would have preferred.

Still, she proved herself in multiple engagements in WWII. She had 14-inch guns and 5.25-inch guns as well as an assortment of other weapons onboard. Having fought in all major theaters of the war, this boat (along with her sister ships) were mothballed in 1950 and ultimately scrapped seven years thereafter.

2. IJN Yamato 

Launched in 1940, this was one of the great battleships that was built in secret (so as to avoid the scrutiny of those seeking to enforce the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922). That’s because this battleship was massive. In fact, it was longer than all US Navy battleships except the Iowa-class. It displaced roughly 65,000 tons, outweighing the biggest Allied battleships by about 20 percent.

She also packed quite a wallop. Possessing 18.1-inch guns, this beast prowled the sea with a serious attitude. Interestingly, while this boat was at the Battle of the Philippine Sea, she played no role in the battle. She only fought in one engagement in 1944 at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where she sank an American ship. She was ultimately sank in April 1945 by American airstrikes. Nevertheless, her size and capabilities made her a tough opponent.

1. USS New Jersey

The most decorated battleship in US Navy history. This battleship is simply the best battleships ever built. This battlewagon earned distinction not only in WWII, but in the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well. She served throughout the Cold War.

She broke many American enemies and made it look good. At full load, this steel monstrosity displaced 57,540 tons. Her main battery consisted of nine 16-inch caliber Mark 7 guns. This boat engaged the enemy, saved allies, and protected freedom on the High Seas—while waving the Stars and Stripes—for 50 years. There is no battleship quite like her.

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. 

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