Throughout history, warships have played a key role in shaping battles and even entire wars. These battle-tested warships that not only survived fierce battles but also changed the course of military history.
Each ship has its own story and legacy, demonstrating how naval power can turn the tide in conflicts and leave a lasting impact on the world.
1. USS Missouri (BB-63)
- Years of service: 1944 – 1992
- Current status: Museum ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Launched on January 29, 1944, the USS Missouri is one of the most famous battleships in U.S. naval history. It served in World War II, the Korean War, and even in Operation Desert Storm.
The Missouri is renowned for being the site of Japan’s formal surrender on September 2, 1945, which ended World War II.
With a length of 887 feet and armed with nine 16-inch guns, it represented the pinnacle of battleship design during its time. After decommissioning in 1992, the Missouri was preserved as a museum ship and is now permanently docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
2. USS Arizona (BB-39)
- Years of service: 1916 – 1941
- Current status: Sunk at Pearl Harbor; memorial site established
The USS Arizona was launched on June 19, 1915 and was tragically sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marking a pivotal moment in U.S. history and leading to America’s entry into the war.
The ship’s wreck remains in the harbor, and the Arizona Memorial was constructed above it to honor the 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives that day. The memorial serves as a solemn reminder of the events of December 7 and the sacrifices made during the war.
3. USS Enterprise (CV-6)
- Years of service: 1938 – 1947
- Current status: Scrapped in 1958
The USS Enterprise, often referred to as the “Big E,” was one of the most decorated ships in U.S. naval history. Launched on October 3, 1936, the Enterprise served valiantly throughout World War II, participating in major battles such as the Battle of Midway and the Guadalcanal Campaign.
Known for its versatility, it operated as an aircraft carrier. After the war, it continued to serve until its decommissioning in 1947. Unfortunately, the ship was scrapped in 1958, but its legacy lives on through numerous films, documentaries, and its impact on naval warfare.
4. Mary Rose
- Years of service: 1511 – 1545
- Current status: Preserved in the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth, England
The Mary Rose was an English warship built in the early 16th century, launched in 1511 under the reign of King Henry VIII. The ship was notable for its innovative design, featuring a higher stern and a more formidable armament than its contemporaries.
On July 19, 1545, during the Battle of the Solent against the French fleet, the Mary Rose tragically sank, resulting in the loss of many crew members. The wreck remained underwater for centuries until it was rediscovered in the 20th century.
Today, the Mary Rose is housed in a museum in Portsmouth, England, where extensive conservation efforts continue to preserve its remains.
5. HMS Dreadnought
- Years of service: 1906 – 1921
- Current status: Scrapped in 1923
Launched in 1906, HMS Dreadnought revolutionized naval warfare with its introduction of an all-big-gun battleship design. It featured steam turbine propulsion, allowing for unprecedented speed and firepower, and became the first modern battleship of its kind.
Dreadnought’s design rendered many older battleships obsolete, leading to a naval arms race in the early 20th century. It served during World War I, including the Battle of Jutland, where it demonstrated its formidable capabilities.
After the war, the Dreadnought was decommissioned in 1921 and later scrapped in 1923.
6. Yamato
- Years of service: 1941 – 1945
- Current status: Sunk in 1945, wreck located in the East China Sea
Yamato was the lead ship of its class and one of the largest battleships ever constructed. Launched in 1940 by Japan, it was designed with immense firepower, featuring nine 18.1-inch guns and heavily armored to withstand enemy fire.
The Yamato served during World War II and participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf. However, its fate was sealed on April 7, 1945, when it was sunk by U.S. aircraft while on a suicide mission to defend Okinawa.
The ship’s sinking symbolized the end of the battleship era in naval warfare, as air power had proven decisive.
7. SMS Schleswig-Holstein
- Years of service: 1906 – 1945
- Current status: Scuttled in 1980 near Gdynia, Poland
SMS Schleswig-Holstein was a German dreadnought battleship launched in 1906. It was one of the first in the Deutschland class and served primarily in the Imperial German Navy during World War I. The ship is known for firing the first shots of the war during the invasion of Poland in 1939.
Throughout its service, it underwent several modifications and played a role in the Baltic Sea operations. After World War II, Schleswig-Holstein was handed over to Poland, where it served as a training ship until it was ultimately decommissioned.
In 1980, it was scuttled near the coast of Gdynia, Poland, and its remains serve as a historical monument to the naval warfare of the early 20th century.
8. Bismarck
- Years of service: 1940 – 1941
- Current status: Sunk in 1941; wreck located in the North Atlantic
The battleship Bismarck was launched by Nazi Germany in 1939 and became one of the most famous warships of World War II. Designed to be a formidable opponent, Bismarck was heavily armed, featuring eight 15-inch guns and a powerful array of anti-aircraft weaponry.
Its first and only mission was in May 1941, when it set sail into the Atlantic to disrupt Allied shipping.
The ship quickly gained notoriety after sinking the British battlecruiser HMS Hood on May 24, 1941, in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. However, this victory was short-lived; shortly thereafter, Bismarck was pursued by British naval forces and sunk on May 27, 1941, after sustained attacks from aircraft and ships.
The wreck was discovered in 1989 and lies at a depth of about 15,000 feet in the North Atlantic.
9. HMS Hood
- Years of service: 1920 – 1941
- Current status: Sunk in 1941; wreck located in the North Atlantic
HMS Hood, launched in 1918, was the last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy and became one of the most celebrated ships in British naval history. On May 24, 1941, during the Battle of the Denmark Strait, it encountered the German battleship Bismarck.
In a catastrophic engagement, Hood was struck by a shell that ignited her magazines, causing a massive explosion that sank the ship within minutes, resulting in the loss of 1,415 crew members. Only three survived, making it one of the largest losses in Royal Navy history.
The ship’s wreck was located in 2001, resting on the seabed of the North Atlantic, and serves as a memorial to the lost crew.
10. HMS Victory
- Years of service: 1765 – 1812 (decommissioned)
- Current status: Museum ship at Portsmouth, England
HMS Victory was launched in 1765 and is best known as Admiral Horatio Nelson’s flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, a decisive engagement during the Napoleonic Wars. With its distinctive three gun decks and a total of 104 guns, Victory was designed as a first-rate ship of the line.
After a long and storied career, Victory was decommissioned in 1812 but has been preserved as a museum ship since the 1920s. Currently located in Portsmouth, England, HMS Victory is the oldest naval ship still in commission and serves as a living museum.
These battle-tested vessels have shaped the way wars are fought and have left lasting legacies. Their stories remind us of the bravery and innovation that have defined military history.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
