Top 10 Technologically Advanced Naval Vessels Ever Built
Technology for naval warfare has advanced throughout history, starting with the most basic rafts all the way to the more complex city-sized vessels that are used today. Each time a new technology hit the seas the naval war was forced to change. This list includes ten examples of naval vessels so ingenuous and efficient, they have transformed the nature of ship design as well as naval warfare.
1. CSS H. L. Hunley – 1863
The Confederacy was not an initial navy that could employ submarines however it was the very first navy to employ the submarine effectively in battle. Submarine technology had not made much advancement in the years that followed however the newly laid CSS Hunley was the exception when it was first introduced in 1863. The Hunley was constructed of an old 40 steam boiler made of iron and was affixed by a spar-torpedo rod of 16 feet that had a torpedo and explosive attached. With an eight-man crew The Hunley began combat against the USS Housatonic which was a 12-gun sloop. The Hunley then charged the vessel. Crew members of the Housatonic shot in vain on the submarine, only to watch the armor and water deflect their shots. The Hunley struck and submerged the Union vessel, making it the first attack of this kind in the history of naval warfare. The Hunley did not return to the surface and probably suffered damage due to the attack it had launched.
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2. HMS Ark Royal II – 1937
When the first aircraft carriers were made, they were constructed from existing vessels that had been significantly altered. Her predecessor was called HMS Ark Royal, HMS Ark Royal was such one of the ships used during WWI. In WWI, the HMS Ark Royal II was the first ship designed from the start to function as an aviation carrier. Due to its concept from scratch it was an enormous improvement over previous efforts. It was able to accommodate two hangars that could accommodate between 60 and 72 aircraft, which comprised six squadrons. It was the HMS Ark Royal was often mentioned in the media and in the propaganda during WWII However, tragically it was destroyed in the waters off Gibraltar with a torpedo shot from the German U81. U81.
3. HMS Dreadnought – 1906
The HMS Dreadnought was such a formidable battleship that it was made its own class within the British Royal Navy. A total of 30 ships similar to the Dreadnought were built prior to the end of World War II, and all were utilized with great efficiency. The Dreadnought introduced a highly effective 12″ gun that was faster in rate of firing than previous constructed weapons systems. The Dreadnought was not destroyed during the war due to fire from the enemy, but one was destroyed when it struck an explosive mine. They were so fearsome by the enemy that their use in battle was restricted to psychological combat. It was also because of the fear of being lost to the new torpedo due to the high cost to operate this type of vessel.
4. HMS Victory – 1765
The HMS Victory is one of the most well-known warships floating. The Victory was launched in 1765 as a top-quality ship of the Line for the Royal Navy. It was equipped with 104 guns which made the Victory extremely powerful against whatever she encountered in the sea. Victory was the Victory was the mainstay for the Royal Navy under numerous commanders and saw numerous battles. The most famous being that of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 in which a group comprising 27 British ships headed by the Victory under the direction of the Admiral Lord Nelson defeated a superior number of Spanish as well as French vessels. It was a battle that went on in a manner of sloppiness because of superior naval tactics and firepower and tactics that and the French as well as the Spanish fleet suffered 22 losses of their ships without even a single British vessels being destroyed, or destroyed.
5. Kobukson – 1592
The Kobukson (also known as the ‘Turtle Ship’) was the first ironclad vessel of the world. Its name comes because of the distinctive’shell made of armor that formed its roof. The roof was constructed of wooden planks , which were then topped with iron spikes, making it a formidable defense platform for ramming attack. Turtle Ships were instrumental in fighting off the Japanese navy which was attacking Korea in the period of the 16th century. Although Turtle Ships weren’t the most important naval vessel during the war however they were extremely ingenious for their time and revolutionized the way vessels were armed throughout the area. It would be nearly three centuries to build an ironclad ship was built in the American Civil War making the Kobukson the most modern and effective weapon system.
6. Napoleon – 1852
The Napoleon was a 2nd Class Ship-of-the-Line for the French Navy. It was equipped with 90 guns as well as an innovation that was never seen before in the battleship industry that was a screw propulsion system. The steam-powered battleship equipped with the screw propulsion drive revolutionized the way that naval warfare was conducted. Within 10 years of its launch in it was estimated that the French as well as the British fleets were equipped with more than 100 vessels that were similarly driven. The advent of Napoleon basically brought an end to sail , as the battleship was the only class of vessel equipped with a steam-powered propulsion system during 1903. The nations began to equip their existing vessels with steam power , sacrificing the deck space that was used to house guns. While future vessels will have less firepower, they would be more maneuverable and quicker, so that less firepower was less of a problem.
7. USS Constitution – 1797
The USS Constitution is the oldest floating warship of the United States fleet and can be visited as a museum , similar to the HMS Victory. The Constitution was also referred to as “Old Ironsides,” was one of the first capital vessels that were part of the United States Navy, which was able to be included on this list because of her effectiveness in the War of 1812. Her victories during the war comprised the capture of many merchant vessels, as well as the defeat by five British warships. The most memorable victory was when she was fought with the HMS Guerriere. Two ships engaged in battle until the Constitution eventually destroyed the masts in the forward and aft, which left the Guerriere drowned in the sea. After she transferred its crew onto the Constitution and the Guerriere was set on fire. Old Ironsides was one of the most successful ships used in the United States Navy having won 33 battles, never having any losses.
8. USS Iowa – 1942
The USS Iowa was the first in a line of brand new battleships that were developed for the US Navy to accompany and defend their Essex-class aircraft carriers. It was equipped by nine sixteen” guns, twenty 5″ guns, as well as several anti-aircraft guns with a team of 1921. The Iowa was a truly destructive weapon, and holds the record of being the biggest speediest, fastest, and most powerful battleship ever deployed in combat. The ship earned her the name “The Big Stick” due to her 16″ guns during WWII as well as “The The Grey Ghost” due to her actions in Korea. In the USS Iowa, USS Iowa earned 11 Battle Stars during her service. It became an exhibit in the year 2012.
9. USS Nautilus – 1954
The USS Nautilus holds the distinction of being the first nuclear-powered submarine join service. The Nautilus was a pioneer in naval engineering, but it was never deployed for combat. The successful testing and application of nuclear power enabled her to break records in a variety of fields. She was the first vessel to travel 200,000 miles while in motion and then broke the record with 300,000 miles. The Nautilus was involved in Operation SUNSHINE, a Top Secret mission Operation SUNSHINE in which she paved the way for the North Pole and became the first vessel ever to reach 90 degrees north in the north. The Nautilus was a valuable asset to the Navy well, and was eventually decommissioned and converted into a museum that was open for the general public on April 1986.
10. USS Zumwalt – 2008
Zumwalt USS Zumwalt was the first in a new series of Destroyer classes designed for the US Navy. Zumwalt Zumwalt was built as a replacement for that of the Iowa class battleships which were decommissioned in the 90s. It can be used for stealthy operations. It also houses an “infinite magazine” which permits continuous firing when ammunition is loaded onboard. The Zumwalt’s gun system can hit targets up to 72 miles away, making it a powerful weapon system. The unique design makes the Zumwalt distinct among the world’s navy vessels. Her trapezoidal shape can confuse radar systems that detect enemy ships to believe she’s smaller than she actually is. Zumwalt’s price was more than 3 billion dollars, and the cheaper DDG-51 class destroyer might be utilized in its place due the cost issues. Even though the Navy only having two such vessels the Zumwalt’s design and capabilities have helped up the competition for destroyers in the modern navy.
