Strongerst battleships of their time (1860-1945)

[500]

1860 - Gloire (France)

5,630 t, 12,5 knots. 36 165-mm guns.

The first in the world sea going ironclad. Converted from wooden battleship.

1861 Warrior (UK)

9,284 t, 14,5 knots. 26 203-mm smoothbore and 10 178-mm rifled guns.

The first all iron and first specially designed ironclad. Iron construction allowed watertight subdivision and improved fire safety. It was also faster than Gloire.

1868 Bellerophon (UK)

7,672 t, 14 knots. 10 229-mm rifled guns.

Its the first Ironclad especially designed to fight other ironclads. It was better armed and armored than Warrior. But number of guns as result reduced.

1869 Monarch (UK)

8,456 t, 15 knots. 2х2 305-mm, 3 - 178-mm guns.

The first sea going towered ship. Central location of towers was not optimal though.

1873 Devastation (UK)

9,480 t, 14 knots. 2х2 305 mm, 4 254-mm guns.

Revolutionary design mastless (no sails) and optimal main armament location in front and rear turrets. It became he role model for battleships until the 1906 Dreadnought.

1879 Dreadnought (UK)

11,061 t, 14 knots. 2х2 320 mm guns.

Larger better armed and armoured Devastation. Should not be confused with 1906 Dreadnought.

 

[500]

1880 Caio Duilio (Italy)

11,138 t,15 knots. 2х2 450-mm guns.

On paper this was the strongest Ironclad of its time. It had insane caliber guns and armor (only in central citadel). But in reality it's doubtful, since gun position was not optimal. they took very long time to load, the armor was concentrated only in one place.

Nevertheless these ships scared even the UK, so UK copied them: Inflexible, Ajax, Colosus.

1887 Admiral (UK)

10,800 t, 16 knots, 2×2 305-mm, 6 152-mm

Return back to classic scheme. Long barrel guns in barbettes with fast traverse and reloading. Added 6 medium caliber guns with high explosive rounds which could destroy unarmoured parts of battleships.

1890 Trafalgar (UK)

12,590 t 16.7 knots. 2×2 343-mm, 6 120-mm.

Improved Admiral with bigger guns and more armor.

1892 Royal Sovereign (UK)

14,380 t, 17.5 knots. 2×2 343-mm, 10 152-mm.

Improved Trafalgar. Much better seakeeping, speed.

1895 Majestic (UK)

16,320 t, 16 knots. 2x2 305-mm, 12 152-mm

Improved Royal Sovereign. Lower caliber but high muzzle velocity and faster loading guns, modern type turrets (covered barbettes). Better armor (Harvey steel armor).

1901 Formidable (UK)

16,186 t, 18 knots. 2x2 305-mm, 12 152-mm.

Improved Majestic. Improved longer guns (40 cal instead 35 cal), higher speed (+2 knots), improved armor (Krupp steel).

1905 King Edward VII (UK)

17,282 t, 18.5 knots. 2х2 305-mm, 4 234-mm, 10 152-mm

Improved Formidable. 4 secondary heavy caliber guns added.

 

[500]

1906 Dreadnought (UK)

22,195 t, 21 knots. 5х2 305-mm, 27 76-mm.

Revolutionary design with two major innovations: medium caliber guns removed and instead drastically increased the number of main caliber guns (from 4 to 10).
Another innovation were turbines, instead of steam machines, which allowed to increase speed from 18 to 21 knots.

Main gun position was not optimal though (maximum 8 could fire in same time to one side). Also low caliber guns were too small.

1910 Delaware (USA)

22,100 t, 21 knots.
5х2 305-mm, 14 127-mm.

Its very similar to Dreadnought but with optimal gun position (all 10 main caliber guns could fire in same time). Low caliber guns are also better.

1912 Orion (UK)

25,870 t, 21 knots. 5х2 343-mm, 16 102-mm.

Similar to Delaware, but with larger caliber guns. First super-dreadnought.

1915 Queen Elizabeth (UK)

33,000 t, 23 knots. 4×2 381-mm, 16 152-mm.

Much larger guns (although number reduced from 10 to 8), more armor, slightly more speed.

1920 Nagato (Japan)

46,356 t, 26.5 knots. 4×2 410-mm, 18 140-mm.

Even bigger guns and more speed than Queen Elizabeth.

1940 Bismarck (Germany)

50,900 t, 30 knots. 4x2 380-mm, 12×150-mm, 16×105-mm.

New generation battleship. Excellent armor and speed.

1942 Yamato (Japan)

72,810 t, 27 knots. 3х3 460-mm, 4х3 155 mm, 6х2 127-mm.

Largest ever battleships. Insane armor, insane guns. Mediocre speed however.

1943 Iowa (USA)

57,540 t, 32.5 knots. 3х3 406-mm, 10х2 127-mm.

Less armor and main gun caliber than Yamato, but much better speed, fire control and air defence.