The history of the development of mankind is characterized by the constant confrontation of various states in different areas, including in the field of shipbuilding. This creates impressive samples of marine vessels. The undisputed leadership in this area belongs to the United States.
Ships serving the Navy of the world differ in various characteristics, the main of which are:
- appointment;
- the size;
- power.
Aircraft carrier "Nimitz"
Currently, the most powerful warships in the world are classified as aircraft carriers created in the United States. The largest surface ship is the aircraft carrier of the Nimitz project. The first was built in the early 70s of the XX century. Its displacement is more than 100,000 tons. Length - 333 m. Propulsion systems can provide a stroke power of 260,000 horsepower. At the same time, he develops a speed of 31 knots. The crew of the aircraft carrier is nearly 3200 people.
The United States built 10 ships on this project. The series was named in honor of Chester Nimitz, who commanded the US Pacific Fleet during World War II.
The aircraft carrier of this project is a smooth-deck ship with an angular runway with an area of 18,000 square meters. It has the most powerful ship in the world of surface and underwater structural protection. So, the second bottom is protected by armored decks. There is also the so-called third bottom, which creates additional stability for the aircraft carrier. The main propulsion system is 2 nuclear reactors and 4 turbine units.
Aircraft carriers of the Nimitz class are identical in their design features, but the latter have a greater displacement and draft. The operation of nuclear reactors is designed to recharge only after 20 years. The main armament is ship aviation.
The aircraft carrier "Nimitz", without a doubt, is one of the top 10 most powerful warships in the world. The latter, named after George W. Bush, was transferred to the U.S. Navy in early January 2009.
Trimaran Independence
Experts say that the most powerful warship in the world, in terms of speed characteristics, is Independence. He is also considered the most unusual warship. It is created according to the scheme of a trimaran.
The United States plans by the mid-thirties of the XXI century to put on combat alert more than 50 ships of this class. Moreover, they will be of 2 types. One small with a displacement of up to 1000 tons. The second large with a displacement of 2500-3000 tons. Currently, only one ship is built, which entered the U.S. Navy in early 2010. Its displacement is almost 2800 tons. Length about 128 m. Cruising speed - 44 knots. Crew - 40 people.
The design solutions incorporated in this warship are designed to ensure maximum speed is achieved. Its hull is designed by a company that has successfully tested a similar hull on civilian ships.
Independence is intended for warfare in the coastal zone. It contains speed characteristics that allow reaching a maximum speed of 50 knots. It can carry out its combat use in case of sea waves of 5 points. This corresponds to a wave height of up to 4 meters.
"Peter the Great"
The most powerful ship in the world, from the category of non-aircraft carriers, is the representative of Project 1114 "Orlan" - the nuclear cruiser "Peter the Great".
The first ship of this series was transferred to the USSR Navy in 1980 and had the name Kirov. It was planned to build 5 ships of this type. However, at present there is only one in service. 3 heavy nuclear cruisers of this project, according to open sources, are under modernization. The latter could not be laid in connection with the collapse of the USSR.
"Peter the Great" as part of a group of ships must perform combat missions to destroy aircraft carriers. Its displacement is 24,000 tons. The length of the ship is 250 meters. 2 nuclear reactors provide the ship with a speed of 32 knots. Cruising range unlimited (when used as power plants reactors). There are two oil steam boilers on the cruiser, which can provide it with autonomy for 60 days. The crew of 1100 people.
The main armament of the cruiser is the Granit missile system, capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 500 km.
Ticonderoga class cruiser
The ships of the Ticonderoga project of the US Navy are recognized as the most powerful ships in the world from the family of middle-class missile cruisers. The first was launched in 1980. Standard displacement is just over 2,700 tons. The length of the ship is 170 m. The speed of 32 knots is provided by four gas turbine units.
Cruising range cruisers of this class with an economic course of 6,000 miles. The crew of the ship is 380 people.
Cruisers of the Ticonderoga project were recognized as the most dangerous for the enemy. Able to continue fighting when the enemy uses weapons of mass destruction. They can lead a battle with sea waves of 7 points.
Cruisers of this type have launchers as their main armament, the number of which is 122, for Tomahawk missiles. In total, 27 ships of this project were released in the USA. Five of which have already been decommissioned. By the beginning of the thirties of the XXI century, it is planned to completely replace them with new ones.
Battleship Bismarck
The most powerful warship since World War II is the battleship Bismarck. It was adopted by the German Navy in 1939. Its total displacement is almost 51,000 tons. The battleship is 251 m long. The power of the course was more than 150,000 horsepower. Could support cruising speed of 30 knots. The crew of the battleship Bismarck totaled 2100 people. Despite the fact that it was inferior in size to the battleships “Iowa” of the USA and “Yamato” (Japan), it was considered the most perfect and powerful ship of the Second World War.
He was distinguished by strong weapons, which included eight 380-mm guns, which made it possible to surpass any other ship of a similar class. However, the first military campaign ended tragically for the ship. It was sunk by the significantly superior forces of the anti-Hitler coalition. But before that, Bismarck destroyed the battleship Hood, the flagship of the British Navy.
"Iowa"
The most powerful ship in the world from the family of battleships, in terms of its dimensions, was the American ship of the Iowa project. The first was built in 1942. Displacement was inferior to Bismarck and amounted to 45,000 tons. However, he surpassed him in length. She was over 270 meters. Cruising speed - 33 knots. The crew of more than 2600 people.
Prior to the construction of nuclear aircraft carriers, ships of this class were the largest. Their creators managed to successfully combine navigational qualities, protective equipment and weapons. Four ships of this type were produced. The latter was fired in 1990.
These battleships took part in battles on the ocean in the Second World War. Participated in the support of US troops and their allies in Korea and Vietnam. After the harpoon and the Tomahawk anti-ship systems were added to the main 406 mm guns, the total capacity of the battleships increased significantly.
Destroyer Daring
The most perfect warship, experts recognize the British destroyer class 45 Type 45 Daring.
These warships perform tasks to ensure air defense of ship groups in their area of operation. Modern electronic systems effectively coordinate aviation activities in the coastal line. The sailing range of the destroyer Daring is more than 5,000 nautical miles. This allows it to be a platform for coordinating air defense almost anywhere in the world.
The first ship was put into operation in 2006. Displacement 8100 tons. The length of the vessel is 152 meters. Cruising speed over 29 knots. The crew of about 200 people.
UAV Protector
The most powerful ship in the world in the class of unmanned warships is the Israeli Protector. Introduced to the Israeli Navy in 2007. Its length is small - only 9 m. However, the speed is impressive - more than 50 knots.
The main task of an unmanned ship is to patrol coastal areas and carry out reconnaissance missions in situations where personnel are at high risk of being seen and destroyed.
Its armament is concentrated on a special weapons platform, which houses multi-caliber machine guns and an automatic grenade launcher.
Submarine Seawolf
The most powerful ship in the world, military, submarine, not carrying intercontinental ballistic missiles, is the American submarine USS Seawolf (translated into Russian Sea Wolf).
She is known for the fact that it is not only the most expensive submarine, but also the quietest. The first became part of the American fleet in July 1997. Maximum noiselessness is achieved at an underwater speed of about 20 knots. The maximum immersion depth is 610 m.
The crew of the submarine - 126 people. Underwater displacement of 9130 tons. The length of the submarine is 107 meters. It is equipped with a power plant, which is a nuclear reactor with a capacity of 45,000 horsepower.
The main armament is the Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles, which are launched from torpedo tubes. About 50 of them are loaded on board.
Initially, the United States intended to build 30 submarines of this project. However, there are only 3 of them in the combat strength of the fleet. Low noise level, invisibility, is provided by a unique soundproof coating of a new type. Moreover, for the first time, a jet engine was used on the submarine, which significantly reduces the noise of the submarine.
Nuclear-powered submarine cruiser Dmitry Donskoy
The largest submarine, but not the most powerful ship in the world, is the nuclear missile cruiser Dmitry Donskoy, designed according to project 941 Shark. It is currently equipped with 20 Bulava ballistic nuclear missiles.
The maximum immersion depth of the missile carrier is 400 m. The underwater swimming speed is about 27 knots. Underwater displacement of 48,000 tons. The crew of 165 people. The movement is provided by 2 atomic water-water reactors, as well as four steam turbine plants. In addition to strategic missiles, it is armed with torpedoes and missile torpedoes.
To date, the Russian Navy has only one ship of this project in service - the Dmitry Donskoy. The rest are decommissioned. The construction of submarines of this series is discontinued.
This boat also differs in that it is the most powerful ship in the world among the submarines in terms of noise. American sailors and submariners sarcastically gave her the name Roaring Cow.
"Ohio"
Without a doubt, the most powerful ships in the world in terms of firepower are US submarines of the Ohio type. These ships entered the arsenal of the country from 1981 to 1997. They are the main component of the country's offensive nuclear forces. Constantly 60% of them are on combat patrol.
A total of 18 submarines from this series were built. 14 of them are equipped with Trident ballistic missiles. Each submarine has 24 pieces. The remaining 4 submarines are converted into carriers of cruise missiles, which each submarine can carry more than 150 pieces.
Underwater speed "Ohio" 25 knots. The maximum immersion depth is 550 m. The crew is 160 people. Submarine recovery of more than 18,000 tons. The length is 177 m. The movement is provided by an atomic water-water reactor, two turbines with a capacity of 30,000 horsepower each, 2 turbo-generators, a diesel generator, and also a backup propeller motor.
Sailboat Santisima-Trinidad
In the category of the most powerful sailing warships in the world, the undisputed leader is the Spanish deck battleship Santisima-Trinidad, which means Holy Trinity. It was built and launched in 1769. Its body is wooden, made of mahogany exported from Cuba. Masts from Mexican pine. The total armament of this largest sailing ship is 140 guns. The crew is almost 1200 people.
However, it was not only the largest, but also, probably, the most clumsy sailing ship. For which he was nicknamed the heavyweight.
The last battle, in which the Holy Trinity participated, took place in October 1805 (Cape Trafalgar, the Atlantic coast of Spain). It was a decisive battle of the era of the Napoleonic Wars. In the naval duel, Santisima-Trinidad opposed 7 battleships in England. As a result of the exchange of blows, the Spanish ship received significant damage and was captured. An attempt to tow it for repair to England ended unsuccessfully, when the storm began, the ship sank.
Currently, the leading world powers do not stop working on the design and creation of more and more sophisticated ships. As a result of this, it is possible to expect that in the near future the world will see new powerful warships.