Top 10 Largest Warships
in the World
It is a natural human desire to build things bigger, faster and
stronger then what came before. In the military world, this adage has held true
over the centuries as various nations and states sought to build the biggest
militaries with the strongest weaponry. Perhaps nowhere is this competitive
nature more evident than in the navies of the various countries. Having a
numerically large navy is a symbol of wealth and power. It also reflects that
nation’s ability to influence the rest of the world or impose its will on
others. With the introduction of airpower, nuclear weapons and space technology
throughout the 20thCentury, the role of the navy changed somewhat.
That said, a capable navy remains an important tool to move your forces around
the world, control an area of water or send a political message to another
state.
Within the navies of the world, an assortment of ships make up the
fleet. From tankers and supply ships to cruisers and aircraft carriers, navies
are composed of a lot of different kinds of vessels. Unsurprisingly, it’s the
big ships that tend to get all the attention. After all, it is the big ships
which tend to have the biggest guns, the most missiles and the most aircraft.
Outside of nuclear weapons, large naval vessels are the ultimate expression of
a country’s power and ability. The country with the newest and biggest ship
usually leaves the competition scrambling to catch up. A little over 100 years
ago, the British demonstrated this when they built the HMS Dreadnaught, the first ‘modern’ battleship of massive size, speed and
armament. It set off an arms race as every other power desperately moved to
build their own fleet of Dreadnaught style ships. To this day, the powers of the
world have continued to compete to see who could build the biggest, best armed,
most capable and modern warships.
The ships of today dwarf most of the biggest warships built during
the Second World War. In terms of tonnage, even the 72,000 ton Yamato class battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy – the largest
warship of World War 2 – falls well short of the 100,000 ton aircraft carriers
which have become the norm in the US Navy. The following list is not about
tonnage but, instead, gives the largest current classes of warships based on
length because in this world, size does matter.
10. Izumo Class (Japan)
– 813 feet
Although only one ship in this class has been completed, Japan
plans on building at least one more for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense
Force. The Izumo is a helicopter carrier whose main military purpose
is to hunt down enemy submarines and destroy them. It can carry up to 14
helicopters or 400 troops and a few dozen vehicles. Costing approximately $1.2
billion a piece, the Izumo class are the most modern ship in the Japanese
fleet and the largest that Japan has built since the Second World War. Other
than the sub-hunting helicopters, this class of warship has no offensive
armament and sports only a few short range guns and surface-to-air missiles for
defensive purposes. The Chinese government has argued that the Izumos could operate more offensive aircraft, like the F-35 stealth
fighter, with little modification. These claims have been rejected, as such an
act would violate the constitution of Japan which forbids offensive weaponry.
9. Kirov Class (Russia)
– 827 feet
Unlike the Izumo class, Russia’s nuclear powered battle-cruisers
of the Kirov Class are anything but defensive in purpose.
Built and commissioned between the late 1970s and 1990s, there were only four
vessels of this class built as it is estimated each ship cost well over the
present-day equivalent of $2 billion. Currently, one is fully operational while
the other three are going through a modernization before being returned to
service. The Kirovs are truly impressive in terms of weaponry.
They carry supersonic anti-ship missiles with a range of 500km, hundreds of
surface-to-air missiles to shoot down enemy missiles and planes, as well as an
assortment of anti-submarine weaponry. The size of these vessels shocked
Western observers and military planners to point where the United States
re-activated and modernized its four World-War Two era Iowa class battleships.
8. Wasp Class (USA) –
831 feet
During the Second World War, the United States Navy and Marine
Corps learned the importance of having specialized ships and equipment for
getting troops ashore on hostile territory. This requirement has held true over
the decades since and the United States has invested considerable money into
ensuring it has the ships capable of inserting and supporting forces in hostile
areas. From 1989 to 2009, the eight ships of the Wasp class were commissioned into service at the cost of around $750
million each. In addition to its 1200 crew, these amphibious assault ships can
carry nearly 1900 marines, dozens of assault craft, helicopters, tanks and
armored assault vehicles. In addition to supporting operations in the
Middle-East and Asia, ships of the Wasp Class have taken part in
humanitarian missions and disaster relief.
7. America Class (USA) –
844 feet
Like the Wasp Class, the America Class is a type of
amphibious assault vessel used by the United States. The USS America, the first of this newest class of ship, is larger, more modern
and, at $3.4 billion, much more expensive than those of the preceding class.
Much of this cost increase is a result of ensuring that these new assault ships
can operate larger and newer aircraft, such as the F-35 Lightning II stealth
fighter and the MV-22 Osprey transport. This makes the new America class ships nearly as capable as a small aircraft carrier. In
terms of airpower, depending on the mission being undertaken, these ships also
carry an assortment of transport, assault and attack helicopters. All of this
is in addition to nearly 1,700 marines, tanks, artillery and other vehicles
which can be carried.
6. Charles de Gaulle
Class (France) – 858 feet
So far the only ship in her class, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is the first nuclear powered French surface ship
and the only nuclear powered carrier currently deployed outside of the US Navy.
After considerable delay and economic slowdowns, the carrier was finally
commissioned in 2001 at the cost of approximately $4 billion. In addition to
light guns and missiles for defense, this French carrier can operate 40
aircraft and sail for over 20 years before it needs refueling. The Charles de Gaulle has faced its challenges, including broken
propellers, poor construction, high radioactivity from the reactors and a
flight deck that was initially too short to operate the desired aircraft.
Nonetheless, once the kinks were worked out, the carrier took part in
operations around the world, including the war against the Taliban in
Afghanistan.
5. Modified-Clemenceau
Class (Brazil) – 869 feet
From 1961 to 2000, the French Navy operated two of the Clemenceau class aircraft carriers. When the time came for
France to modernize, one ship was scrapped while the other (Foch) was sold to the Brazilian Navy in 2000 for $12
million. The Foch was renamed São Paulo.
Since its purchase, the São Paulo has undergone numerous and extensive upgrades to
its flight-deck, engines, sensors and defensive weaponry. Unsurprisingly, most
of these enhancements have been provided by French companies. It hasn’t been
smooth sailing for the São Paulo since its introduction to the Brazilian Navy. In
2005 and 2012 fires broke out onboard the ship, killing and injuring a number
of crewman. Currently, the ship can carry 39 aircraft with the A-4 Skyhawk
providing the offensive capability.
4. Modified-Kiev Class
(India) – 930 feet
The INS Vikramaditya is currently one of two aircraft carriers in the
Indian Navy. The ship began its life as the Baku in the Soviet Navy in
1987. By 1996, Russia decided that its budget could not support a Soviet-era
military and the country moved to scrap or sell a considerable amount of
military equipment. In 2004, the Baku was purchased by India
for $2.35 billion. As part of the deal, Russia agreed to modify the ship to
Indian needs and equip it with Russian aircraft. These changes included
stripping the heavy armament and adding a ski-jump ramp at the end of the
flight deck to transform the Soviet-era cruiser-carrier into a full aircraft
carrier. In 2013, the carrier was commissioned into the Indian Navy as the
INS Vikramadityawith the capability to operate 36 aircraft.
3. Modified-Admiral
Kuznetsov Class (China) – 999 feet
The PLAN Liaoning is the first aircraft carrier to enter service
with China. The ship was originally named the Riga during its time in Soviet service. Renamed Varyag in 1990, the carrier was deemed surplus to Russia needs as it no
longer fit with the Russian post-Soviet military budget. China purchased the
stripped down carrier from Ukraine in 1998 for $25 million under the story that
it would be turned into a floating casino. Everyone knew such a cover-story was
ridiculous and military analysts were not surprised when the carrier was
commissioned into Chinese service as the Liaoning in 2012. The carrier is fitted with defenses against
missiles, aircraft and submarines, as well as the ability to operate 30 fixed
wing aircraft. As the Liaoning is China’s first carrier, it is primarily used
to train pilots for carrier service.
2. Admiral Kuznetsov
Class (Russia) – 1001 feet
Unlike American aircraft carriers, Soviet-Russian aircraft
carriers were often equipped with heavy offensive-defensive weaponry. This
weaponry includes heavy long-range anti-ship missiles, dozens (if not hundreds)
of SAMs and some form of anti-submarine weaponry – all in addition to the
aircraft they carried. The Admiral Kuznetsov class fit this formula well and is considered to
actually be a Heavy-Aircraft-Carrying-Cruiser. The Admiral Kuznetsov is the only remaining ship of this class – the
other being sold to China. This carrier was commissioned into service in 1990
and remains Russia’s only true aircraft carrier. In terms of aircraft, the Admiral Kuznetsov can operate over 30 fixed wing aircraft and a
dozen helicopters.
1. Nimitz Class (USA) –
1092 feet
The aircraft carriers of the Nimitz Class are the largest
warships currently in service in the world. At around $4.5 billion each, these
carriers are the most expensive ship on this list. The ten ships of this class
help the United States flex its military muscle around the world. Aside from
military matters, these 100,000 ton super-carriers have also provided
humanitarian relief from the Indonesian tsunami in 2004 to the 2010 earthquake
in Haiti.
Nimitz carriers can operate 85
to 90 aircraft, substantially more than any other carrier in the world. They
also have the usual array of missiles and guns meant to protect against enemy
missiles and aircraft. It is expected that each carrier from this class will
serve for 50 years before being decommissioned. In the meantime, the US Navy
has already begun the building the Gerald R. Ford class, an even bigger
aircraft carrier with a price tag estimated to be between $9-12 billion.
