10 Biggest Naval Ships

The ocean is home to some amazing moving bodies of which some stretch almost half-a-kilometer and sketch a daunting figure in the horizon. Today, we present to you the list of the biggest naval ships ever built. Rather unsurprisingly, most of the ships in the list belong to the US Navy.

No 10. Shinano – 266 meters
Country: Imperial Japan
Commissioning: 1944

Type: Aircraft carrier

This ship was named after the ancient Japanese province Shinano. It was used during World War 2. When built, it was the largest aircraft carrier of its time. The Shinano met its demise when it was sunk by the submarine USS Archer-Fish on 29 November 1944, just 10 days after her commisioning.

No 9. Iowa class – 270 meters
Country: USA
Commissioning: 1943
Type: Battleship

These battleships served the US Navy in every major war from World War 2 to the Gulf War. 6 Iowa class ships were ordered and only 4 were completed with other 2 being cancelled before being completed. The battleships were USS Iowa (BB-61), USS New Jersey (BB-62), USS Missouri (BB-63) and USS Wisconsin (BB-64). These remaining 4 ships are now retired.

No 8. Lexington class – 271 meters
Country: USA
Commissioning: 1929
Type: Aircraft carrier

The Lexington class were the first operational aircraft carriers of the US. They were converted from battlecrusiers in accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. It was designed for a displacement of 37,000 tons. Only 2 were built, USS Lexington CV-2 (sunk in 1942) and USS Saratoga CV-3 (ended up as target for atomic bomb tests in Bikini Atoll)

No 7. Admiral Kuznetsov class – 302 meters
Country: Russia
Commissioning: 1990
Type: Aircraft carrier

This class has only one functional unit; the Admiral Kuznetsov. It displaces 55,200 tons of water with full load. It had a maximum speed of 59 km/h.

No 6. Midway class – 306 meters
Country: USA
Commissioning: 1945
Type: Aircraft carrier

The Midway class was commissioned in 1945 and served until 1992, making it one of the longest serving carrier classes in history. It had a maximum speed of 61 km/h. Only 3 were built: USS Midway (CV-41), USS Franklin D Roosevelt (CVB-42) and USS Coral Sea (CV-43)

No 5. Kennedy class – 320 meters
Country: USA
Commissioning: 1968
Type: Aircraft carrier

Nick-named “Big John”, the USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 served the US Navy for almost 40 years. It was decommissioned in 2007. This 1,050-feet monster had a displacement of 82,655 tons with full load.

No 4. Forrestal class – 325 meters
Country: USA
Commissioning: 1955
Type: Aircraft carrier

Forrestal carriers were the first supercarriers of the US Navy. Their tonnage was 25% greater than the previous Midway class. 4 were built; USS Forrestal (CV-59), USS Saratoga (CV-60), USS Ranger (CV-61) and USS Independence (CV-62). All four of the Forrestal class had been decommissioned.

No 3. Kitty Hawkclass – 327 meters
Country: USA
Commissioning: 1961
Type: Aircraft carrier

Also known as Miss Kitty, the Kitty Hawk class was an improved version of the Forrestal class. Three ships of the class were built: USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), USS Constellation (CV-64) and USS America (CV-66) and all of them are retired now. It could carry up to 90 aircrafts at once.

No 2. Nimitz class – 333 meters
Country: USA
Commissioning: 1975
Type: Aircraft carrier

This 333 meter monster has a displacement of a massive 100,000 tons. The Nimitz class ships carry two A4W pressurized water reactors which supply the vessel with 190 MW of power. Their nuclear power enables them to operate for 20 years without any refueling. The class has over 10 ships, all in service.

No 1. Enterprise class – 342 meters
Country: USA
Commissioning: 1961
Type: Aircraft carrier

Nicknamed the “Big E”, the USS Enterprise is the world’s first nuclear aircraft carrier. The Enterprise CVN-65 is the only ship of her class. She is set to retire in 2013, which will make it the longest serving carrier in the US Navy. Built for over 450 million dollars, the USS Enterprise has taken part in many battles including Operation Frequent Wind and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Source : http://realitypod.com