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The Most Massive Battleships Ever Built

The Most Massive Battleships Ever Built

Updated: by

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

28. Kirov Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

27. Moltke Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

26. Florida Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

25. New York Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

24. Wyoming Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

23. Nevada Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

22. Rivadavia Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

21. HMS Agincourt Dreadnought

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

20. Revenge Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

19. Ise Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

18. Pennsylvania Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

17. Iron Duke Super Dreadnought Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

16. New Mexico Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

15. Queen Elizabeth Class Super Dreadnought

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

14. Bayern Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

13. Kongō Class Battlecruiser

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

12. Fusō Dreadnought Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

11. King George V Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

10. Littorio Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

9. Nagato Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

8. South Dakota Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

7. HMS Hood

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

6. North Carolina Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

5. Richelieu Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

4. HMS Vanguard

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

3. Bismarck Class

Source: German Federal Archive / Wikimedia Commons

2. Iowa Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

1. Yamato Class

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

28. Kirov Class
27. Moltke Class
26. Florida Class
25. New York Class
24. Wyoming Class
23. Nevada Class
22. Rivadavia Class
21. HMS Agincourt Dreadnought
20. Revenge Class
19. Ise Class
18. Pennsylvania Class
17. Iron Duke Super Dreadnought Class
16. New Mexico Class
15. Queen Elizabeth Class Super Dreadnought
14. Bayern Class
13. Kongō Class Battlecruiser
12. Fusō Dreadnought Class
11. King George V Class
10. Littorio Class
9. Nagato Class
8. South Dakota Class
7. HMS Hood
6. North Carolina Class
5. Richelieu Class
4. HMS Vanguard
3. Bismarck Class
2. Iowa Class
1. Yamato Class

Battleships have always been the biggest indicator of a nation's naval power, symbolizing its dominance and military supremacy. Once considered the peak of the maritime fleet, at one point the United States had 23 battleships constructed in different classes and averaged around one new ship a year. These impressive vessels, some of the most massive battleships ever built, were hundreds of feet long, displaced tens of thousands of tons, bristled with massive guns, and sheathed with the thickest armor.

After WWII, the battleship surrendered its naval preeminence to aircraft carriers, submarines, and amphibious warships. The last U.S. battleship to be built was the USS Missouri – commissioned in 1944, and decommissioned in 1992. Not only were they too costly to maintain, but they were also more susceptible to attack from both aircraft and subs. As of July 2024, there are no U.S. battleships in service. Although eight remain, they have been converted into museums, like the USS Iowa, currently docked in Los Angeles, and the USS Massachusetts docked at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts.

24/7 Tempo consulted sources including Navy General Board, Largest.org, Militaryfactory, PearlHarbor, and others to compile a list of the most massive battleships ever built, using displacement tonnage as a measure. Note that with three exceptions, the list is ordered not by individual ship but by battleship class, each class including two or more ships with different names. The exceptions are the U.K.'s HMS Agincourt, HMS Hood, and HMS Vanguard.

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