Ajaxpaul
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2011
- Messages
- 4,412
- Reaction score
- -5
10. Hood Class - Battle Cruiser; Great Britain
Known as the 'Mighty Hood', it was considered the greatest warship ever built, and throughout the 1920's and 30's went on world tours boasting its power and size.
But that boast would soon be shattered when World War II began. Hitler's navy had some of the most modern and sophisticated battleships. The Hood met her match in May of 1941 when she came up against the German Battleship Bismarck, and Heavy Battlecruiser Prinz Eugen.
It only took five salvos from Bismarck to pierce the Hood's deck armor. Within eight minutes the Hood sank and out of crew of 1418, only three men survived.
9. Deutschland Class - Pocket Battleship
The British dubbed Germany's Deutschland class the 'pocket battleship' because it was so small, fast and deadly.
The secret of the pocket battleships' speed and power was the innovative design of making the ship lighter.
By using diesel engines, instead of steam turbines, and an electrically welded hull, the Deutschland class was able to cruise over 12,500 miles, equal to half way around the world. It sent shivers of fear throughout the allied navies.
8. Essex Class - Aircraft Carrier
On March 17 1945, during an air strike against the Japanese Island of Honshu, one Essex class aircraft carrier - the USS Franklin came under attack.
As wave after wave of suicide pilots came in, the Franklin fought for its life. For over 12 hours the ship was a blazing furnace. 724 members of her crew were killed. But the Franklin was so well designed and built that she didn't sink.
In total, 24 Essex class were built - more than any other class of large carrier - and when peace came, the Essex carriers remained in service for another 30 years. No other class of aircraft carrier has served so long or so effectively
7. Bismarck Class - Battleship
Launched in February 1939, and known as Hitler's favorite ship, the German naval brass were itching to get the Bismarck into the fight. On May 19, 1941, they got their wish. The Bismarck went on her first war patrol in the north Atlantic.
Six days later, on May 25th, Bismarck sighted the British Navy's Battleship HMS Hood. Five salvos from the Bismarck's superior guns sent the Hood to the bottom of the ocean.
The Royal Navy wanted revenge for the Hood, and the order went out, 'Sink the Bismarck!'
For over three days the British fleet hunted and chased the Bismarck. Finally, on the morning of May 27th, with its steering smashed from torpedo bombers, the pride of the German Navy was cornered.
For over three hours the Bismarck slugged it out with the British fleet and at 10:39 a.m. she was sunk with over 2000 men lost.
6. North Carolina Class
On June 1, 1940, the first of the new North Carolina class battleships, the USS Washington, was launched. She and her sister ship, the USS North Carolina, were the first of the new generation American battleships that called for better torpedo and deck armor, longer endurance and gas protection.
Over the next three years there was hardly an action that the North Carolina class were not involved in.
Known as the 'Mighty Hood', it was considered the greatest warship ever built, and throughout the 1920's and 30's went on world tours boasting its power and size.
But that boast would soon be shattered when World War II began. Hitler's navy had some of the most modern and sophisticated battleships. The Hood met her match in May of 1941 when she came up against the German Battleship Bismarck, and Heavy Battlecruiser Prinz Eugen.
It only took five salvos from Bismarck to pierce the Hood's deck armor. Within eight minutes the Hood sank and out of crew of 1418, only three men survived.
9. Deutschland Class - Pocket Battleship
The British dubbed Germany's Deutschland class the 'pocket battleship' because it was so small, fast and deadly.
The secret of the pocket battleships' speed and power was the innovative design of making the ship lighter.
By using diesel engines, instead of steam turbines, and an electrically welded hull, the Deutschland class was able to cruise over 12,500 miles, equal to half way around the world. It sent shivers of fear throughout the allied navies.
8. Essex Class - Aircraft Carrier
On March 17 1945, during an air strike against the Japanese Island of Honshu, one Essex class aircraft carrier - the USS Franklin came under attack.
As wave after wave of suicide pilots came in, the Franklin fought for its life. For over 12 hours the ship was a blazing furnace. 724 members of her crew were killed. But the Franklin was so well designed and built that she didn't sink.
In total, 24 Essex class were built - more than any other class of large carrier - and when peace came, the Essex carriers remained in service for another 30 years. No other class of aircraft carrier has served so long or so effectively
7. Bismarck Class - Battleship
Launched in February 1939, and known as Hitler's favorite ship, the German naval brass were itching to get the Bismarck into the fight. On May 19, 1941, they got their wish. The Bismarck went on her first war patrol in the north Atlantic.
Six days later, on May 25th, Bismarck sighted the British Navy's Battleship HMS Hood. Five salvos from the Bismarck's superior guns sent the Hood to the bottom of the ocean.
The Royal Navy wanted revenge for the Hood, and the order went out, 'Sink the Bismarck!'
For over three days the British fleet hunted and chased the Bismarck. Finally, on the morning of May 27th, with its steering smashed from torpedo bombers, the pride of the German Navy was cornered.
For over three hours the Bismarck slugged it out with the British fleet and at 10:39 a.m. she was sunk with over 2000 men lost.
6. North Carolina Class
On June 1, 1940, the first of the new North Carolina class battleships, the USS Washington, was launched. She and her sister ship, the USS North Carolina, were the first of the new generation American battleships that called for better torpedo and deck armor, longer endurance and gas protection.
Over the next three years there was hardly an action that the North Carolina class were not involved in.
