A man long ago began to master the water element. Scientists believe that the man first invented the first swimming craft 50-60 thousand years ago. These were rafts of bundles of reeds or logs, but this did not prevent our desperate ancestors from embarking on such fragile little ships to new islands and even continents. In ancient times, the sea did not divide people, but, on the contrary, connected different cultures and civilizations.
Ancient people used sea spaces for trade, transportation of goods, search for new territories and for war. Very soon the sea became another arena of fierce battles. Already in the ancient world, the first specialized warships appeared, large-scale naval battles began to occur. The largest of these was the Salamis battle between the Persians and the Greeks, which occurred in the Aegean Sea in 480 BC. e.
In the nineteenth century, a real revolution took place in shipbuilding. If earlier all ships (including military ones) moved using wind energy and human muscular strength, then steam engines replaced them. Wood - the main building material used by shipbuilders since ancient times, was replaced by steel.
In the twentieth century, the rapid development of the navy continued. The first aircraft carriers, submarines, rocket and torpedo boats appeared. Currently, the Navy - is the most high-tech and the most expensive type of armed forces.
This article tells about the largest warships in the world. In our rating are collected not only modern ships, but also ships built in other historical periods. The main criterion is not only the size of the ship, but also the history of its use and the influence it has on the development of the naval business. The top 10 includes ships built in different countries: in Russia, the USSR, the USA, the UK.
So, the top 10: the biggest ships in the world.
10. MDKVP "Bison" (USSR / Russia)
Opens our ranking of the 10 largest ships hovercraft. This ship, although it had the official name of the “small landing ship”, but this should not mislead you: the Bison displacement is 555 tons, and its length is more than 57 meters. However, the greatest advantage of the ship is its speed, which can reach 60 knots.
The ship was developed in the Soviet Union, adopted for service in 1988. MDKVP "Zubr" can take on board three main battle tanks (up to 150 tons) and 140 paratroopers. Today, such ships are in service with the Russian and Greek Navy.
9. Battleship Yamato (Japan)
The ninth place in the top 10 is the Japanese superlinker of the Second World War period. "Yamato" is the largest warship sunk by the enemy. It was launched in 1939. "Yamato" participated in the battles in the Pacific and was destroyed by American aircraft, and not having time to make a single volley from the guns of its main caliber.
The dimensions of this ship are really impressive: length - 263 meters, full displacement - more than 72 thousand tons. He was armed with nine 460-mm guns of the main caliber, which could fire at a distance of up to 45 kilometers.
8. Iowa Type Battleships
This is a series of American battleships, whose construction began before World War II. To date, the battleships of this project are the largest existing ships in its class. In total, four battleships were built, they took part in combat operations in the Pacific Ocean, and then supported ground forces during the Korean and Vietnamese wars.
Three battleships have been turned into floating museums, and another is part of the US Reserve Fleet.
The length of each of these ships is 270 meters, displacement - more than 57 thousand tons. Artillery armament consists of nine 406-mm guns and twenty 127-mm cannons.
7. Battleship "Bismarck" (Germany)
At the seventh place of the top 10 largest ships is another legendary battleship of the Second World War - the Bismarck. This ship was the real pride of the Navy of the Third Reich. It was launched in 1939, had a displacement of more than 50 thousand tons. In terms of size and caliber of main-caliber guns, it was inferior only to Yamato and Iowa.
In the first raid "Bismarck" was sunk by the combined forces of the British Royal Navy. However, before this, the German battleship was able to bring the British flagship to the bottom - the battleship Hood.
6. The linear sailing ship Santisima Trinidad ("Holy Trinity", Spain)
In sixth place, the top 10 is the Spanish combat sailing ship, which is considered the largest in history. It was built in Cuba in 1769 and was in service with the Spanish naval forces for about 35 years.
For its time, the battleship "Holy Trinity" was a real giant. The whole hull, including the cladding and deck, was made of very durable and expensive material - Cuban mahogany, and pine masts were used on the masts of Mexico. The battleship was armed with 140 cannons of various calibers, its displacement was 5 thousand tons, and the crew - 1200 people.
Because of its large size, the ship was very clumsy, but the thickness of the sides of 60 cm made the battleship almost unsinkable. The famed admiral Nelson repeatedly encountered this ship in battle. The last time it happened during the Battle of Trafalgar: seven English ships of the line fought with the Spanish battleship at the same time, but they could not sink it. After the battle won, the British wanted to tow the giant to Britain, but it sank along the way.
5. Cruiser Peter the Great (Russia)
This is the largest of the non-appealing ships, it belongs to the Orlan series of project 1114 ships, the first of which was launched in 1977. "Peter the Great" was adopted by the Russian Navy in 1996.
The displacement of Peter the Great is 25860 tons, its length is 250 meters, the most formidable weapon of the ship are the Granit anti-ship missiles, which can hit the enemy at a distance of 550 km. Currently, the cruiser is the flagship of the Northern Fleet of Russia.
4. Project 941 Akula submarine (USSR / Russia)
In fourth place in the top 10 is the nuclear submarine of Project 941 "Shark", armed with strategic ballistic missiles. This submarine was designed in the Soviet Union, the first boat of this series was launched in 1981.
The submarine cruiser "Shark" has truly impressive dimensions: length - 172.8 m, underwater displacement - 48 thousand tons. The submarine can dive to a depth of 500 meters. Her crew is 160 people. In addition to the torpedo armament, onboard the ship are 20 SLBMs P-39 or R-30 Bulava. Today, the Russian Navy consists of three submarines of Project 941.
3. Aircraft carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" (USSR / Russia)
"Admiral Kuznetsov" the only aircraft carrier, which is currently part of the Russian Navy. It was launched in 1985, and in 1991 enrolled in the Northern Fleet of Russia. In addition to military aviation, it is armed with anti-ship missiles "Granit", which is uncharacteristic of aircraft carriers.
Unlike the American aircraft carriers, the Admiral Kuznetsov is equipped with a boiler-turbine power plant, which somewhat reduces its capabilities. The length of the Russian aircraft carrier is 270 meters, the largest displacement exceeds 61 thousand tons.
2. Battleship HMS Dreadnought (Fearless, UK)
In second place is the top 10 ship, whose name gave the name to a whole subclass of battleships. His appearance produced a real revolution in the naval business.
The Fearless was launched in 1906, the main difference between this ship and the battleships of that time was the increase in the number of guns of the main caliber and the rejection of guns of intermediate calibers. This gave the ship significant tactical advantages. In addition, the "Dreadnought" was first used steam turbine power plant, which provided him the speed of 21 knots.
After the appearance of this ship and other leading maritime powers began to build similar battleships, they all received the nominal name "Dreadnought". By the beginning of the First World War, the sea was already plowing "super dreadnoughts", armed with even more powerful artillery systems.
1. Aircraft carriers such as "Nimitz" (USA)
In the first place of the top 10 are the largest and most powerful of the current warships - American aircraft carriers such as "Nimitz". The lead ship of this series was launched in the distant 1972, and the last - in 2006.
The displacement of these floating giant airfields is about 100 thousand tons, its length is about 330 meters. All ships of this series are equipped with a nuclear power plant. The takeoff deck area is more than 18 thousand square meters. meters Carriers of this series can take on board up to 90 aircraft and helicopters of various types.
Such a ship alone can decide the outcome of a military conflict with a small country, which the war with Yugoslavia and Iraq clearly showed. The existing anti-ship weapon is practically powerless against such aircraft carriers - only the use of nuclear missiles can destroy this sea monster. Today, Nimitz is truly the rightful owner of the oceans.
