It is only natural that humanity is always striving to build bigger, faster and more durable things than those that existed before them. In the military world, this desire can be well traced over the centuries, as various countries and states sought to build the largest armed forces with the most powerful arsenal of weapons. This nature of competition is most evident in the navies of various nations. Possession of a numerically large fleet is a symbol of wealth and power. It also reflects that country's ability to influence the rest of the world or impose its will on others. With the introduction of the air force, nuclear weapons and space technology in the 20th century, the role of the navy has changed somewhat. However, a mighty fleet remains important tool to move your forces around the world, control the waters or notify another state of your political position.

In the navies of the world, the fleet consists of a whole variety of ships. The navy is made up of a large number of various types vessels from tankers and transport ships to cruisers and aircraft carriers. It is not surprising that it is large ships that most often attract all the attention. After all, it is on large ships that, as a rule, they install the largest guns, most missiles and most aircraft. Aside from nuclear weapons, large naval vessels are the clearest indicator of a country's power and capabilities. The state, which has the newest and largest ships, usually forces competitors to try to catch up with it. Not more than 100 years ago, Britain demonstrated this by building the battleship HMS Dreadnaught, the first "modern" huge-sized battleship to sail on high speed and equipped with an impressive amount of weapons. The advent of this vessel set off an arms race, as all other powers immediately rushed to build their own fleet of Dreadnought-style ships.

Modern ships dwarf most of the largest warships built during World War II. In terms of tonnage, even the Imperial Japanese Navy's 72,000-ton Yamato-class battleship - the largest warship of World War II - lags far behind the 100,000-ton aircraft carriers that have become the norm for the US Navy. The list below is not about tonnage, but about the largest classes of modern warships based on length, because in this world, size does matter.

10. Destroyers-helicopter carriers of the Izumo type (Izumo Class) (Japan) - 247.8 meters

Although only one ship of this class has been built, Japan plans to build at least one more for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Izumo is a helicopter carrier whose main military purpose is to hunt down submarines enemy and their destruction. It can carry up to 14 helicopters or 400 troops and dozens of vehicles. The Izumo-class ships, valued at approximately $1.2 billion, are the most modern ships in the Japanese navy and the largest built by Japan since the end of World War II.

With the exception of helicopters that hunt enemy submarines, this class of warship has no offensive weapons and is equipped with only a few short-range guns and surface-to-air missiles for defensive purposes. The Chinese government claims that with minor modifications, the Izumos can carry more militarized aircraft such as the F-35 stealth fighter-bomber. These claims were dismissed as such an action would be in violation of Japan's constitution, which prohibits the presence of offensive weapons in the country.

9. Project 1144 Orlan cruisers (Russia) - 252 meters


Unlike the Izumo-class helicopter carriers, the Project 1144 Orlan nuclear-powered battlecruisers of Russia were not created for defensive purposes at all. They were built and put into operation between the late 1970s and the 1990s. There are only four ships of this class, and each ship is estimated to be worth far more than the modern equivalent of $2 billion. Currently, one of them is fully operational, while the other three are being upgraded before returning to service. These Project 1144 Orlan cruisers are really impressive in terms of armament. They carry supersonic anti-ship missiles with a range of 500 kilometers, hundreds of surface-to-air missiles to shoot down enemy missiles and aircraft, and a variety of anti-submarine weapons. The size of these vessels shocked Western observers and military strategists to the point that the US recommissioned and upgraded four of its World War II-era Iowa-class battleships.

8. Universal landing ships type "Wasp" (Wasp Class) (USA) - 253.2 meters


During World War II, the United States Navy and Marine Corps realized the importance of having specialized ships and equipment to get troops ashore in hostile territory. The need for such vessels and equipment has persisted for decades, so the US has invested heavily in building ships that can deliver and support troops in hostile zones. Between 1989 and 2009, eight Wasp-class amphibious assault ships were commissioned, costing approximately $750 million each. In addition to their crew of 1,200, these landing craft can carry around 1,900 Marines, dozens of assault craft, helicopters, tanks and armored assault ships. Vehicle. In addition to supporting operations in the Middle East and Asia, Wasp-class landing craft have taken part in humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

7. Universal landing ships of the type "America" ​​(America Class) (USA) - 257.2 meters


Like the Wasp-class landing craft, the America-class landing craft are a type of landing craft used by the United States. The aircraft carrier "America", which became the first ship of this latest type ships are larger, more modern and much more expensive than the ships of the previous class, since its cost reaches 3.4 billion dollars. Much of this cost increase has gone into making these new attack craft able to carry larger and more modern aircraft, such as the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter-bomber or the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor. (MV-22 Osprey). This capability makes the new America-class ships nearly as powerful as small aircraft carriers. From an air force perspective, depending on the mission, these ships can also carry a variety of transport, assault and gunship helicopters. And all this in addition to the nearly 1,700 marines, tanks, artillery and other vehicles that these ships can carry.

6. Aircraft carrier of the type "Charles de Gaulle" (Charles de Gaulle Class) (France) - 261.5 meters


On this moment this ship is the only ship of this type. "Charles de Gaulle" is the first nuclear-powered French combat surface ship and the only nuclear aircraft carrier currently operating outside of the US Navy. After a significant delay and slowdown economic development, the aircraft carrier was finally commissioned in 2001. Its construction cost the country approximately $4 billion. In addition to light guns and missiles for defense, this French aircraft carrier can carry 40 aircraft and sail for more than 20 years before it needs to be refueled. The Charles de Gaulle had its own problems, including broken propellers, poor design, high radioactivity from the reactors, and a flight deck that was initially too short to carry the required aircraft. However, as soon as the problems were fixed, the aircraft carrier took part in operations around the world, including in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

5. Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers (Modified-Clemenceau Class) (Brazil) - 264.8 meters


From 1961 to 2000, the French Navy operated two Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers. When it came time to modernize the French fleet, one ship was retired and the other (Foch) was sold to the Brazilian Navy in 2000 for $12 million. Foch was renamed Sao Paulo. Since its purchase, São Paulo has undergone numerous and extensive upgrades to its flight deck, engines, sensors, and defensive weapon systems. Not surprisingly, most of these improvements were made by French companies. The sailing has not been smooth for São Paulo since the beginning of its introduction into the Brazilian Navy. In 2005 and 2012, fires broke out on board the ship, which killed and maimed several sailors. Currently, the ship can carry 39 aircraft, and the American A-4 Skyhawk light carrier-based attack aircraft provides offensive capability.

4. Aircraft-carrying cruisers of project 1143 "Krechet" (Modified-Kiev Class) (India) - 283.4 meters


The aircraft carrier "Vikramaditya" (INS Vikramaditya) is currently one of two aircraft carriers in service with the Indian Navy. The ship began its life as "Baku" in the Soviet Navy in 1987. By 1996, Russia decided that its budget could not support military equipment of this kind, built in Soviet years, and the country has moved to scrapping old ships or selling a significant amount military equipment. In 2004, Baku was acquired by India for $2.35 billion. As part of the deal, Russia agreed to modify the ship to suit Indian needs and equip it with Russian aircraft. These changes included the removal of heavy weapons and the addition of an inclined takeoff ramp at the end of the flight deck to convert the Soviet-era aircraft carrier into a full-fledged aircraft carrier. In 2013, the aircraft carrier was commissioned by the Indian Navy as the Vikramaditya. At the moment, it can carry 36 aircraft.

3. Aircraft carrier type Modified "Admiral Kuznetsov Class" (Modified-Admiral Kuznetsov Class) (China) - 304.4 meters


The aircraft carrier Liaoning (PLAN Liaoning) is the first aircraft carrier to enter service in China. The ship was originally named "Riga" during her service in the Soviet Union. The ship was renamed Varyag in 1990. Subsequently, the aircraft carrier was deemed redundant for the needs of Russia, since the Russian post-Soviet military budget could no longer support it. China bought the lightweight aircraft carrier from Ukraine in 1998 for $25 million under the guise of turning it into a floating casino. Everyone knew the cover was ridiculous and military analysts weren't surprised when the aircraft carrier was commissioned into the Chinese navy as the Liaoning in 2012. The carrier is equipped with missile, aircraft and submarine defenses and can carry 30 aircraft with a fixed wing. Since Liaoning is China's first aircraft carrier, it is mainly used to train pilots for service on an aircraft carrier.

2. Aircraft carriers of the type "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov" (Russia) - 305.1 meters


Unlike American aircraft carriers, Soviet and Russian aircraft carriers were often equipped with heavy offensive and defensive weapons. These armaments include heavy long-range anti-ship missiles, dozens (if not hundreds) of anti-aircraft guided missiles, and some sort of anti-submarine weapons - all in addition to the aircraft they carried. The type of aircraft carriers Admiral Kuznetsov fully complies with this formula and is actually considered a heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser. Admiral Kuznetsov is the only remaining ship of this class - another was sold to China. This aircraft carrier was put into operation in 1990 and remains the only real aircraft carrier in Russia. In terms of aircraft transportation, Admiral Kuznetsov can carry over 30 fixed-wing aircraft and a dozen helicopters.

1. Nimitz Class aircraft carriers (USA) - 332.8 meters


The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are the largest warships currently in service in the world. The cost of each of them is approximately 4.5 billion dollars. These aircraft carriers are the most expensive on this list. Ten ships of this type help the United States to show its military power around the world. In addition to military matters, these 100,000 ton super-carriers also provided humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Nimitz-class aircraft carriers can carry between 85 and 90 aircraft, significantly more than any other aircraft carrier in the world. They also have the usual array of missiles and cannons designed to defend against enemy missiles and aircraft. Each aircraft carrier of this type is expected to serve for 50 years before being retired. At the same time, the US Navy has already started building the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, an even larger aircraft carrier estimated to cost between $9 billion and $12 billion.

One of the main indicators of the military power of the state, as well as its influence and wealth, is the navy. Each country that has a navy strives to take a leading position in this area, and to surpass its opponents in this respect. Two of the well-known leaders - the United States and Russia, are armed with the largest ships in the world, which are presented in this rating.

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10. Izumo

A country: Japan
Displacement: 19500 tons (standard)

Our list opens with a squadron destroyer of the type " Izumo", which was created to detect and destroy submarines and other objects.

The main Japanese helicopter carrier began operating in 2015. The length of the destroyer is 248 meters, the allowable number of people on board is about 1000. The ship is capable of carrying twenty helicopters. Izumo is one of the largest ships built by the Japanese.

In the near future (2017), another Kaga helicopter carrier is expected to be commissioned.

# # #

9. Nuclear cruiser "Peter the Great"

A country: Russia
Displacement: 23750 tons (standard)

The most powerful maritime power - Russia has created four nuclear-powered cruisers of the project 1144 - Orlan. The main cruiser currently in service with the Russian Federation was the cruiser " Peter the Great“, the length of which is 251 meters. Three other cruisers are currently under reconstruction ("Admiral Lazarev", "Admiral Nakhimov" and "Admiral Ushakov").

The main combat mission of "Peter" is the destruction of enemy aircraft carriers. The number of military on the flagship is 1035 people. The flagship is armed with six hundred combat missiles and a large number of other ammunition. And the heart of a cruiser is worth 2 nuclear reactor KN-3 type, producing 300 MW each. The cruiser has two turbines of 70,000 hp each. each, 4 power plants, 4 steam turbine generators and 4 gas turbine generators.

# # #

8. Landing ships of the "UOSP" type

A country: USA
Displacement: 28233 tons (standard)

These landing ships were created for the landing of American troops directly on enemy territory. In total, eight ships of this type were built, and they have been operating since 1989 to the present.

The length of the UOSP is 257 meters. This ship is capable of carrying about 2,000 naval personnel and about 40 air force ships on its board.

Since ancient times, people have traveled the seas, gradually improving their ships. Modern shipbuilding is very developed, and the range of ships has become extremely diverse. But the TOP of the largest ships in the world always attracts special attention, which will be discussed below.

1. Seawise Giant (Knock Nevis)

Deadweight - 564 700 tons.
. Length - 458.5 m.
. Year of construction - 1979.
. Last country of registration: Sierra Leone. Dismantled for scrap.

Until 2010, the largest ship in the world was the Knock Nevis supertanker, built in 1975 in the Japanese city of Yokosuka. Before changing several names, he had a simple number 1016. But the cyclopean dimensions actually ruined him - the tanker could not pass through either the Panama or the Suez Canal, even in the English Channel it would run aground, so move from ocean to ocean could only take a roundabout way.
During the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, an Iraqi missile hit him and seriously damaged him. As a result, the supertanker sank in the Persian Gulf near the shore. After the end of the conflict, he was raised from the bottom and towed to Singapore, where they were able to restore in 1991, giving him a new "optimistic" name "Happy Giant". But as a tanker, no one needed it, so it began to serve as a floating oil storage. Finally, in 2009, the "lucky man" was sent on his last journey to the Indian shores, where next year it was cut up for scrap.

2. Pierre Guillaumat

Deadweight - 555,000 tons.
. Length - 414.2 m.
. Year of construction - 1977.
. Last country of registration: France. Cut up for scrap.

In the family of twin ships of the Batillus series, this supertanker is the largest in terms of deadweight. It was built at French shipyards, worked for nothing at all - 5 years, after which it was ruthlessly sent in 1983 to South Korea, where it turned into scrap metal. The rest of his brothers from the same series shared his fate. The reasons for such an inglorious death in all cases were the same problems with the impossibility of passing through the Suez and Panama canals.

3 Esso Atlantic

Deadweight - 516 900 tons.
. Length - 406.5 m.
. Year of construction - 1977.
. Last country of registration: Liberia. Cut up for scrap.

At one time, this oil supertanker was also a deadweight champion. It was built in Japan, and made its first commercial route from African Liberia, where the company owner Esso Tankers registered it under the Liberian flag. Most often, the tanker transported oil from the Middle East to Europe. But in 2002, the end came to him - in Pakistan, he was cut into scrap metal. He was practically a twin ship "Esso Pacific", but despite the "Pacific" name, he was smaller than the "Atlantic brother".

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4. Emma Maersk

Deadweight - 156 900 tons.
. Length - 397 m.
. Year of construction - 2006.
. Last country of registration: Denmark. It is still in operation.

This is the first ship of eight identical container ships of the E-class series, built by the Danish holding Moller-Maersk Group. At the time of her first voyage in 2006, she was the world's largest floating ship. "Emma Maersk" carries a variety of cargo between Asia and America, following through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar.
This ship has a not very successful history - when its construction was already being completed, a fire broke out on the upper deck, which seriously damaged the brand new ship. Needed some repairs which were done quickly. In 2013, a new misfortune happened - right in the middle of the Suez Canal, one of the dry cargo ship's power plants broke down, as a result of which it lost control. Fortunately, both the ship and the canal remained intact.
Europeans do not favor the giant for its use of sulfur-rich fuel. Like many giant ships, "Emma" does not fit into the Panama Canal, so the Pacific Ocean is closed to her (not around Cape Horn to sail there!).

5.TI Class

Deadweight - 441 600 tons.
. Length - 380 m.
. Year of construction - 2003.
. Last country of registration: Belgium. It is still in operation.

This double-hulled ship had the largest deadweight and gross tonnage of its time. In total, four completely identical ships were built: two "TI Africa" ​​and "TI Oceania" under the flag of the Marshall Islands, "TI Europe" under the Belgian flag and "TI Asia". But in 2010, floating platform-terminals for storing and shipping oil products were made from "Asia" and "Africa", since then they have been working on a layup near one of the Qatari offshore oil fields.

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6 Vale Sohar

Deadweight - 400 300 t.
. Length - 362 m.
. Year of construction - 2012.
. Last country of registration: Marshall Islands. It is still in operation.

This vessel belongs to the family of the largest bulk carriers and is owned by the mining company Vale from Brazil. It transports ore mined in Brazil to the United States. In total, 40 huge dry cargo ships ply along this route, the deadweight of which is in the range of 380-400 thousand tons. Sohar is the largest ship among them.

7. Allure of the Seas

Deadweight - 19 750 tons.
. Length - 362 m.
. Year of construction - 2008.
. Last country of registration: Bahamas. It is still in operation.

This ship is from the class of cruise ships "Oasis", consisting of two twins (the second "Oasis in the Seas"), occupying leading place for its type of ships in the world. They say that Allure is still 5 cm longer than Oasis, which is why it is presented here. This giant is able to take on board 6296 passengers and 2384 crew members. The types of entertainment offered on board are countless, this floating city has a golf course and ice rink, a bunch of bars and shops, there is even a park with exotic plants.

8. Queen Mary II

Deadweight - 19 200 t.
. Length - 345 m.
. Year of construction - 2002.
. Last country of registration: Bermuda. It is still in operation.

This beautiful transatlantic cruise ship is one of the largest passenger liners in the world. It is capable of transporting 2,620 passengers from the Old to the New World or back with maximum comfort. It was designed and built by the French company "Chantiers del" Atlantique ". On board there is a theater, a casino, 15 restaurants and the only planetarium on ships.

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9. Mozah

Deadweight - 128 900 tons.
. Length - 345 m.
. Year of construction - 2007.
. Last country of registration: Qatar. It is still in operation.

This vessel opens a new family of tankers of the Q-Max series, which specialize in the transportation of liquefied natural gas produced in fields off the coast of Qatar. It was designed and built in South Korea. In total, 14 tankers from this series are currently in operation.

10. USS Enterprise (CVN-65)

Length - 342 m.
. Year of construction - 1960.
. Last country of registration: USA. The aircraft carrier has been decommissioned.

This is the largest American nuclear strike aircraft carrier, the first to operate a nuclear power plant. He began acting in 1961. A series of six similar hulks was planned, but only the Enterprise was built. Its cost resulted in an incredible 451 million of those more dollars, so even the bottomless US budget could not afford such expenses. In length, it is the largest warship in the world. Refueled once nuclear fuel, the aircraft carrier acquired autonomy for 13 years of active service and could cover a million nautical miles during this time. In February 2017, the Enterprise was sent to an honorary retirement - for the US Navy, this was the first farewell to a nuclear aircraft carrier.

7.12.2015 at 15:07 · pavlofox · 28 380

Top 10 largest warships in the world

Navy of each state is an indicator of its wealth, power and authority. Since the Second World War, an arms race has begun that has not ended to this day. Almost every maritime power is trying to outdo its rival. The emerging two leaders do not give up their positions. They own the largest warships in the world.
The rating includes 10 positions, taking into account the length of vessels of various types.

10. Izumo | 248 m

The top ten largest warships are opened by destroyer-helicopter carriers of the "" type. They are designed to track down submarines and destroy them. The lead Japanese destroyer Izumo entered service in 2015.

Another Kaga helicopter carrier is on the way, which will be put into service in 2017. The length of the first warship is 248 m, and the crew capacity is about 1000 soldiers. The Japanese is able to transport up to two dozen helicopters. This is the largest combat one built by Japan.

9. Orlan | 251 m

Project 1144 "" cruisers are four heavy nuclear missile cruisers belonging to the Russian Navy. Three of them are currently under modernization ("Admiral Ushakov", "Admiral Lazarev", "Admiral Nakhimov"). In service Russian fleet consists of the cruiser "Peter the Great", the length of which reaches 251 m. The main purpose of the flagship is to destroy enemy aircraft carrier objects. It has several hundred combat missiles and many other ammunition in stock. The crew capacity is 1035 people.

8. Wasp | 257 m

Wasp-class amphibious assault ships are designed to land US Navy troops on foreign territory. In total, eight vessels of this type were built, which are in service from 1989 to the present day. The length of the universal ship reaches 257 m. It is capable of transporting up to 40 military aircraft, and is intended for more than two thousand crew members.

7. America | 257 m

The America-class amphibious assault ships are designed to gradually replace the Wasp-class warships. The mission of the ships remains the same: ensuring the landing of troops along with military equipment on the unequipped coasts of the enemy. At present, the lead ship "America" ​​has been put into service and another one has been built. According to the project of aircraft carriers of this type, 11 more ships are planned. The length of the head "landing" is just over 257 m. The military vessel is designed for approximately 3,000 military crews. The America is designed to carry larger military equipment than the Wasp and other aircraft carriers of the same size. Warships of this type are among the largest universal ships.

6. Charles de Gaulle | 261 m

"" - the first nuclear-powered ship and aircraft carrier of the French Navy, which replaced the Clemenceau. The length of the flagship reaches 261 m, it is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft structures. The crew capacity on board is 1900 people. The ship has been in use since 2001 and takes part in military exercises and conflicts. This is the only aircraft carrier and the largest warship in France.

5. Clemenceau | 265 m

French aircraft carriers of the "" type were considered one of the most powerful warships in France. Two such vessels were built: Clemenceau and Foch. The first was withdrawn from service with the French Navy, and the second was sold to Brazil at the beginning of this century. Now the ship is called "Sao Paulo" and is in service with the Brazilian Navy. The aircraft carrier is capable of accommodating 39 aircraft on deck. Its length is 265 m. The ship can accommodate more than 1300 crew members.

4. Gyrfalcon | 274 m

"" - project 1143 aircraft-carrying cruisers. Only four aircraft carriers of this type were created: "Kyiv", "Minsk", "Novorossiysk", "Baku". The last of the series, "Baku" has the largest length, which is almost 274 m. This vessel completely passed into the possession of India in 2004, and was renamed "Vikramaditya". The modernized combat aircraft carrier is currently part of the Indian Navy. At its site, it is capable of transporting up to 36 aircraft and 1,300 crew members. The Vikramaditya is one of the largest warships.

"" - one of the largest domestic warships currently. It is designed to protect maritime borders from possible attacks from other countries and is capable of hitting large surface targets. The length of the vessel is about 306 m. It is part of the Northern Fleet and has been in use since 1991 to the present day. Kuznetsov is capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft and can accommodate up to 2,000 people. This is the first and only large aircraft carrier in our country.

2. Nimitz | 332 m

Aircraft carriers of the type "" - largest warships, which are in service with the United States. The type of American aircraft carriers is designed to destroy large surface targets and provide air defense. The military giant is capable of carrying 90 aircraft at a time, which is many times the capacity of other aircraft carriers. The maximum length of the huge vessel is more than 332 m, it can accommodate up to 3200 people on one ship alone, not counting the air wing.

The mass of combat stocks on board is about two tons. There are ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in total. The cost of one "Nimitz" is about four and a half billion dollars. The first lead ship "Nimitz", which was named after the type of aircraft carriers, was released in the 70s of the last century. For all the time in operation, the ships took part in the wars that took place in Yugoslavia, Iraq, etc. The series includes ships: Nimitz (1975); "Eisenhower" (1977); "Vinson" (1982); Roosevelt (1986); "Lincoln" (1989); "Washington" (1992); "Stennis" (1995); Truman (1998); Reagan (2003); "Bush" (2009). The service life of each of these vessels is 50 years.

1. Enterprise | 337 m

The aircraft carrier "" is one of the largest warships in the world. Its length is 342 m. According to the project, 5 more aircraft carriers of this type were planned. But due to the large financial costs that went to the first ship, the project was suspended. The ship was in service with the US Navy from 1961 to 2012. The ship's ammunition reached two and a half thousand tons.

The area of ​​the giant ship was able to accommodate 90 helicopters and planes on its site, as well as up to 5,000 crew members. The warship participated in many military conflicts and went to sea twenty-five times. Currently, work is underway to dismantle the aircraft carrier. It will be replaced by the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, whose length will be 337 m. Its construction was completed in 2013. Commissioning is planned for 2016.

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Humans have long sought to create something great by raising the bar over and over again and engaging in an ongoing display of superiority and power. Each new creation, structure or mechanism had to be stronger, faster, higher, wider, larger and more durable than the previous ones. military industry- not an exception. Since ancient times, the strength of the navy largely determined the winner of the battle and clearly demonstrated the alignment of forces. Civilizations constantly fought for fertile land and influence in strategically advantageous sea basins. As a result, thousands of magnificent and amazing ships have been built over the past centuries, designed to testify to the military power of their country. In this compilation, 25 of the largest warships ever launched are waiting for you.

25. America-class amphibious assault ships

America is a huge assault ship and one of the largest ships in the US Navy. So far, only one ship of this configuration exists, and that is USS America, built in 2014. The length of the vessel is 257 meters, and its displacement is about 45,000 tons!

24. Shokaku-class warship


Photo: wikimedia.org

Both Shokaku-class aircraft carriers were built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1930s. The construction of the ships was completed shortly before the outbreak of World War II in 1941, and these ships were at one time considered in fact "undoubtedly the best aircraft carriers in the world." The Shokaku-class vessel was 257.5 meters long. Both giants were sunk by the enemy in 1944.

23. Audacious-class ships


Photo: anonymous, 09 HMS Eagle Mediterranean Jan1970

The Audacious-class aircraft carriers were designed by military engineers for the British government in the 1930s and 1940s. They failed to show in practice during the fight against Nazi Germany, since the construction of these ships was completed after the end of World War II. The Audacious warships participated in exercises and strategic operations from 1951 to 1979. The length of such a vessel was 257.6 meters.

22. Taiho-class aircraft carrier


Photo: wikimedia.org

Taiho was first launched in 1941, and it was an aircraft carrier of the Empire of Japan, built to participate in the battles of World War II. The total length of the ship was 260.6 meters, and its design assumed invulnerability even in the face of massive bombardment, torpedoing and other hull attacks. The aircraft carrier Taiho was supposed to be able to continue the battle in any conditions, but in 1944 she managed to sink everything. The ship sank after a direct hit by a torpedo fired by the American submarine USS Albacore during a fierce battle in the Philippine Sea.

21. Warship Akagi


Photo: wikimedia.org

There were many glorious ships in the Japanese navy, and Akagi is another famous aircraft carrier of this Asian empire, which served it from 1927 to 1942. The ship distinguished itself first in the Second Sino-Japanese War of the 1930s, and then during World War II in the legendary attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The last battle of the aircraft carrier was the Battle of Midway Atoll in June 1942. Akagi was seriously injured in the battle, and his captain decided to sink the ship himself, which was a common practice among the captains of the Japanese Navy in those years. The length of the ship was 261.2 meters.

20. Charles de Gaulle-class warship


Photo: wikimedia.org

Let's go straight to the numbers - the length of the French flagship Charles de Gaulle is 261.5 meters, and its displacement is 42,500 tons. To date, this warship is considered the largest warship in all of Western Europe, still launched to participate in exercises and strategic operations. The flagship Charles de Gaulle was commissioned for the first time in 1994, and today this nuclear-powered vessel remains the leading aircraft carrier of the French Navy.

19. Ship INS Vikrant


Photo: Indian Navy

Here is the first aircraft carrier built in India. The length of this warship is 262 meters, and it is about 40,000 tons. Vikrant is still in the process of fitting out and is scheduled for completion in 2023. The name of the aircraft carrier from the Indian language is translated as "courageous" or "daring".

18. English warship HMS Hood


Photo: wikipedia.org

And this is one of the oldest warships on our list of the largest naval ships in the world. HMS Hood was the last battlecruiser built for the British Royal Navy. Launched in August 1918, HMS Hood was 262.3 meters long and boasted a displacement of 46,680 tons. The impressive cruiser was sunk by the Germans during World War II in the Battle of Denmark Strait in 1941.

17. Graf Zeppelin-class warship


Photo: wikipedia.org

The four Graf Zeppelin-class ships were to become Kriegsmarine ships (Kriegsmarine, the German navy of the Third Reich era), and their construction was planned as early as the 1930s. However, due to political disagreements between the German Navy and the Luftwaffe (Luftwaffe, the air force in the Reichswehr, Wehrmacht and Bundeswehr), due to disagreements among the highest ranks of the Kriegsmarine itself, and because Adolf Hitler lost interest in this project, none of these impressive aircraft carriers was never launched. As planned by the engineers, the length of such a ship was to be 262.5 meters.

16. Yamato-class warships


Photo: wikimedia.org

The Yamato-class ships were Imperial Japanese Navy warships built and launched during World War II. The maximum displacement of these giants was 72,000 tons, for which they are still considered one of the heaviest warships in the history of the navy of the whole world. The total length of the Yamato-class vessel was 263 meters, and although 5 of these warships were originally planned, only 3 were eventually completed.

15. Clemenceau-class vessel


Photo: wikimedia.org

The Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers were a pair of warships that served with the French Navy from 1961 to 2000. In 2000, one of these aircraft carriers, Clemenceau, was disarmed and dismantled, and the second, Foch, was transferred to the Brazilian Navy. The aircraft carrier Foch remains in the port of Sao Paolo to this day. Its total length is 265 meters.

14 Essex Aircraft Carriers


Photo: wikimedia.org

Here is the foremost power of the US Navy during World War II, the Essex-class aircraft carrier. In the 20th century, this type of warship was the most common type of large warship. There were 24 of them in total, and 4 of these aircraft carriers are now open to the public as floating museums of the history of the American Navy. So if you happen to go to the states and want to get on board a real battle cruiser, the ships Yorktown, Intrepid, Hornet and Lexington will happily open the veil of military secrets of the mid-20th century for you.

13. Combat aircraft carrier Shinano


Photo: wikimedia.org

Shinano was a huge aircraft carrier that served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The ship was 266.1 meters long and weighed 65,800 tons. However, the Japanese rushed to launch it, because at that time Shinano still needed design work. Probably for this reason, the giant aircraft carrier lasted only 10 days in the war and was sunk at the end of 1944.

12. Iowa-class warship


Photo: wikipedia.org

Fast battleships Iowa class were built by order of the US Navy in 1939 and 1940 in the amount of 6 combat units. As a result, only 4 out of 6 ships were launched, but all of them took part in a number of important confrontations for America, including World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The length of these artillery armored ships was 270 meters, and the displacement was 45,000 tons.

11. Lexington-class aircraft carrier


Photo: wikipedia.org

In total, 2 such aircraft carriers were built, and both ships were designed by order of the US Navy in the 1920s. This class of ships performed very well and was seen in many battles. One of these warships was the aircraft carrier Lexington, which was sunk by the enemy during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. The second ship, the Saratoga, was blown up during an atomic bomb test in 1946.

10. Kiev-class warship


Photo: wikimedia.org

Also known as Project 1143 or the aircraft-carrying cruiser Krechet, the Kyiv-class ship was the first Soviet aircraft carrier transporting fixed-wing aircraft. To date, of the 4 ships built, one has been dismantled, 2 are out of order, and the last, the Admiral Gorshkov, was sold to the Indian Navy, where it is still in service.

9. Queen Elizabeth class warship


Photo: UK Department of Defense, flickr

She is one of two Queen Elizabeth class ships and both are still in the process of fitting out for the Royal Navy. The first ship is HMS Queen Elizabeth, and all work on its construction will be completed in 2017, the second - HMS Prince of Wales, which is scheduled to be launched in 2020. The length of the hull of HMS aircraft carriers is 284 meters each, and the maximum displacement is 70,600 tons.

8. Ship type Admiral Kuznetsov


Photo: Mil.ru

The Admiral Kuznetsov-class aircraft carriers were the last warships of their kind built for the Soviet Navy. In total, 2 ships of this class are known, and this is the Admiral Kuznetsov board (launched in 1990, still in the ranks of the Russian Navy), as well as Liaoning (sold to China, construction was completed in 2012). The hull length of aircraft carriers of this class is 302 meters.

7. Midway class aircraft carrier


Photo: wikimedia.org

The Midway-class aircraft-carrying cruiser project proved to be one of the most reliable and enduring design solutions in the history of the Navy. The first flagship of this type, launched in 1945, was the USS Midway, which served the US Army until 1992. The last task of the vessel was participation in the operation "in the desert" in 1991. Another ship of this class is the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt and was retired from service in 1977. A third aircraft carrier, USS Coral Sea, was placed on standby in 1990.

6. USS John F. Kennedy


Photo: wikipedia.org

Secondly nicknamed Big John, the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy is one of a kind, and last ship US Navy with non-nuclear power plant. The vessel reaches 320 meters in length, and once it was even capable of conducting combat operations against submarines.

5. Forrestal-class warship


Photo: wikipedia.org

Here is one of 4 Forrestal-class aircraft carriers, designed and built specifically for the US Army in the 1950s. The Forrestal, Saratoga, Ranger and Independence were the first supercarriers to combine significant displacement, elevators and a corner deck. Their length is 325 meters, and the maximum weight is 60,000 tons.

4. Combat ship Kitty Hawk


Photo: wikipedia.org

The Kitty Hawk class was the next generation of US Navy supercarriers after the Forrestal class. 3 ships were built in this line (Kitty Hawk, Constellation, America), all of them were ready for launching in the 1960s, and today they have already been decommissioned. The hull length is 327 meters.

3. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier


Photo: wikimedia.org

The Nimitz ships are 10 nuclear-powered supercarriers belonging to the American Navy. With an overall length of 333 meters and a maximum displacement of over 100,000 tons, these vessels are considered the world's largest warships underway. They have taken part in many battles around the world, including Operation Eagle Claw in Iran, the Gulf War, and the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2. Warship Gerald R. Ford


Photo: wikimedia.org

This type of ship is planned to replace some of the still operational Nimitz-class supercarriers. The hull of the new ships will be very similar to the Nimitz cruisers, but, as for technical equipment, the Gerald R. Ford class will be much more modern. In particular, such innovations as an electromagnetic catapult for launching aircraft and many other technological solutions are already planned to increase the efficiency of the ship and reduce the cost of its operation. The Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers will be slightly longer than the Nimitz class, at 337 meters.

1. Combat vessel USS Enterprise


Photo: wikimedia.org

Here is the leader of our list and the first supercarrier with a nuclear power plant. USS Enterprise is the longest (342 meters) and most famous warship in the world. It has served the US Army for 51 years and is therefore also considered one of the longest lasting US aircraft carriers. The USS Enterprise saw action in many battles including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. In addition, this cruiser took part in the filming of feature films. For example, some scenes from Star Trek and Top Gun (Top Gun, star trek) were filmed on the deck of the USS Enterprise, which is rightfully considered the largest American aircraft carrier and one of the 10 most dangerous warships on the planet.