Top 5 Warships of WWII

1: USS Enterprise (1938-1947)

This Yorktown-class aircraft carrier was known as the 'Big E' and was easily the most decorated U.S. ship in the whole of World War II. She took part in more fights against Japan than any other U.S. ship. These fights included the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Eastern Solomon, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, many other fights during the Guadalcanal campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. At three different times duing the Pacific War, the Japanese said that she had been sunk in battle. This led to her being nicknamed 'The Grey Ghost'.

2: Yamato (1941-1945)

The Yamato class battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy were built between 1937-1942 and at the time was the heaviest battleships ever constructed with the largest naval artillery ever fitted to a warship. Two battleships of the class (Yamato and Musash) were completed, while a third (Shinano) was converted to an aircraft carrier during construction. Yamato was sunk by US naval air power in April 1945 during Operation Ten-Go.

3: Bismarck (1940-1941)

The Bismarck was the first of two Bismarck-class battleships built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. The Bismarck and her sister ship Tirpitz were the largest battleships ever built by Germany and were tasked with raiding Allied shipping from North Africa to Great Britain. The Bismarck, after her steering gear had been knocked out by a torpedo and was unable to maneuver was finally cornered and sunk by ships and planes from the Royal Navy on May 27th, 1941 ending one of the most intensive naval manhunts in history.

4: USS Iowa (1943-1949)

This Iowa class battleship had the best combination of offensive and defensive firepower, speed, maneuverability, armour, damage control and fire control to be put together during World War II. There were four built, of a class of six: Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri and Wisconsin. Kentucky was scrapped at about 70% completed , and Illinois was cancelled on the stocks. USS Iowa was the only ship of her class to have served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II.

5: HMS King George V (1940-1951)

The King George V-class battleships were the most modern British battleships in commission during World War II and operated in all three major theatres of war, the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific, as well as being part of the British Home Fleet and Pacific Fleets. Five ships of this class were built with HMS King George V and HMS Prince of Wales most notibly being involved in the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck.