Were Battleships Just Big Targets?

The United States Navy’s 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers — 10 of the Nimitz class and one Gerald R. Ford class — are the largest surface combatants in the world. The largest non-carrier surface combatant is the Pyotr Velikiy, one of four Russian Navy’s Project 1144 Orlan, or Kirov-class battlecruisers originally that were designed for the Soviet Navy at the end of the Cold War.

The USS Missouri (BB-63) battleship fires its massive guns in a dramatic show of power, but the display doesn’t change the fact that these ships are no longer central to modern navies. Image: U.S. Navy

Originally to be named Yuri Andropov, the former General Secretary of the Communist Party, it was renamed in honor of Czar Peter the Great. Current plans call for the ship to be retired due to age and high maintenance costs.

Two of the other vessels of the class were retired from service, while the third, the Admiral Nakhimov, was mothballed in 1999 only to begin a modernization effort a decade ago.

The photo shows the Russian Navy’s battlecruiser Pyotr Veliky sailing at sea, a massive vessel that is part of the Kirov-class of nuclear-powered warships. The ship has a long, sleek hull with multiple superstructures rising above the deck, bristling with radars, missile launchers, and defensive systems. It is one of the largest non-carrier surface combatants in the world, heavily armed with anti-ship missiles, air defense systems, and naval guns. Pyotr Veliky was designed at the end of the Cold War to project Soviet naval power across the globe. The warship’s imposing size reflects an era when superpowers invested in large, heavily armed surface fleets. However, its continued operation is challenged by aging systems and high maintenance costs. This image highlights both the power and limitations of oversized warships in modern naval warfare. — The Russian *Pyotr Veliky* carries heavy missile armament and advanced sensors, making it more of a floating arsenal than a traditional battleship. Image: Lev Fedoseyev/TASS

However, the bigger question is whether such large warships have a place in 21st-century naval combat. Are these vessels suitable for modern combat, or are they just massive floating targets? While supporters of battleships might not like to hear, there is a case that they were always just oversized targets.

Mystique of the Battleship

Perhaps because of the battleships that saw service during the Second World War, and which were returned to service at the end of the Cold War, there remains a certain mystique. The 1992 Die Hard clone Under Siege certainly helped remind audiences of the power of the massive warships.

The photo shows HMS Dreadnought, the Royal Navy warship launched in 1906, sailing at sea. The ship has a long steel hull, multiple heavy gun turrets, and a distinctive superstructure that made her the most advanced battleship of her time. She was the first “all big gun” warship and the first capital ship powered entirely by steam turbines, which gave her superior speed and firepower. HMS Dreadnought rendered all previous battleships obsolete almost overnight, leading to a naval arms race before World War I. The photo captures her early years when she represented unmatched naval supremacy. Despite her revolutionary design, she never fired her guns in a major surface battle and was scrapped after just over a decade of service. This image highlights both her historic importance and the irony of her short-lived dominance. — The Royal Navy’s HMS *Dreadnought* underway shows the beginning of the battleship arms race. She was faster, more heavily armed, and unlike anything the world had seen before. Image: Public Domain

Yet, the truth is that while the last U.S. Navy battleships still seemed capable surface combatants in the post-Cold War era, the “Age of the Battleship” had long since passed. It could even be argued it didn’t last that long.

Though the term “battleship” predated what we associate with the floating fortresses of the 20th century, the age began in February 1906 when the Royal Navy launched HMS Dreadnought. So significant was that one warship that all existing battleships were deemed essentially obsolete — and those vessels before her launch were retroactively designated “pre-Dreadnoughts.”

The photo shows USS Maine, a U.S. Navy pre-dreadnought battleship, underway at sea in the late 19th or early 20th century. The ship has a steel hull, multiple smaller-caliber gun turrets, and a distinctive military mast typical of pre-dreadnought design. Unlike later battleships, Maine carried a mixed armament of heavy and secondary guns rather than focusing on a single large caliber. She represented the transition from ironclad warships to modern steel battleships. Her design reflected naval thinking before HMS Dreadnought rendered such vessels obsolete in 1906. The photo captures an era of experimentation in shipbuilding, where speed, armor, and firepower were still being balanced. Maine’s silhouette demonstrates the technological limits and naval strategy of her time. — The USS *Maine* sails as an example of the pre-dreadnought battleship era. Ships like this were quickly outclassed once HMS Dreadnought launched in 1906. Image: U.S. Navy

It is beyond the scope of this article to go into significant details about HMS Dreadnought, but the point remains that her arrival marked a major turning point in the evolution of warships. She was the first “all big gun” warship in the world, and the first capital ship to have an all-turbine powerplant, which made her the fastest battleship at the time of her commissioning. Yet, there was nothing particularly radical about the armament, and other designers were already envisioning warships as capable, but the Royal Navy just got there first.

Perhaps even more importantly, HMS Dreadnought was quickly built — which was meant to highlight to the world that the UK could produce an unassailable fleet of battleships. Instead of giving the Royal Navy an advantage, her construction sparked a naval arms race, as nations around the world sought to build Dreadnought-like warships.

The photograph shows USS Michigan (BB-27), one of the first U.S. Navy dreadnought-style battleships, anchored in New York Harbor in 1912. The ship has a long steel hull, tall cage masts, and multiple large-caliber gun turrets in fore-and-aft arrangement. Unlike earlier pre-dreadnoughts, Michigan carried a uniform heavy gun battery, following the design principles pioneered by Britain’s HMS Dreadnought. Her presence in New York Harbor reflected the United States’ growing naval ambitions and modernization of its battle fleet. Michigan was a South Carolina–class battleship, built to demonstrate that the U.S. could keep pace with European powers in naval technology. The photo captures her imposing silhouette against the city backdrop, symbolizing a new era of American sea power. — USS *Michigan* (BB-27) sits in New York Harbor in 1912, representing one of America’s first dreadnought-style battleships. Her design marked the Navy’s entry into the modern battleship era. Image: U.S. Navy

Despite being the catalyst that led to a new era of battleships, HMS Dreadnought never fired her guns in anger at a surface target. She was sold for scrap in 1921 and broken up in 1923. By that time, even larger and more capable warships had been built.

The other great irony of the Age of the Battleship is that nearly five months before HMS Dreadnought was even laid down, the only true battleship vs. battleship engagement had already been fought.

Battle of Tsushima

It is also beyond the scope of a single article to offer the history of the Russo-Japanese War, but the important points to note are that the Russian Navy suffered its worst defeat in its more than 300-year history. The precursor to that infamous battle should have served as a warning sign — one that was ignored, and with deadly consequences.

In August 1904, the Russian Navy’s First Pacific Squadron engaged the Imperial Japanese Navy — and both sides saw their battleships take damage. One Russian battleship was severely damaged and five others took slight damage, but all the warships were forced to return to Port Arthur, which was under siege by land. Unable to break out, the Russian warships were stripped of their guns, which helped reinforce Port Arthur’s defenses.

Instead of accepting that the war couldn’t be won, the Russian government responded by forming a Second Pacific Squadron, consisting of 11 of the Baltic Fleet’s 13 battleships. The plan called for the warships to sail from St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea to the Far East to help relieve the siege of Port Arthur.

From the beginning, the plan had problems — notably that Russia’s newer battleships couldn’t transit the Suez Canal, which necessitated their traveling around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. The older battleships and cruisers took the shorter route through the canal and the two flotillas met up in Madagascar.

The lengthy journey meant the crews would face weeks at sea before they arrived.

The squadron under the command of Admiral Zinovy Rozhestvensky had barely reached the North Sea, when it mistook British fishing trawlers for Japanese gunboats. The Russian fleet opened fire, sinking a trawler and killing several British fishermen. Even worse, the Russians fired upon two of their own vessels for nearly 20 minutes, in which numerous Russian sailors were wounded or killed. It has been stated the only reason the loss of life wasn’t greater was because of the low quality of Russian gunnery — as the battleship Oryol reportedly fired more than 500 shells without hitting anything.

The image shows several Japanese battleships sailing in formation during the Battle of Tsushima in May 1905. Their steel hulls, tall masts, and smokestacks dominate the scene as the fleet moves across rough seas. These ships formed the core of Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō’s Combined Fleet, which decisively defeated the Russian Second Pacific Squadron. The Japanese battleships used superior speed, training, and accurate long-range gunnery to overwhelm the Russian force. Tsushima was the first, and one of the only, large-scale battleship-on-battleship engagements in history. The photo reflects Japan’s emergence as a global naval power following its victory. This moment signaled the decline of Russia’s influence in East Asia and the importance of modern battleship tactics. — Japanese battleships steam in formation during the Battle of Tsushima, a clash that reshaped naval history. Their accurate gunnery and coordination crushed the Russian fleet. Image: Public Domain

It was a portent of what was to come.

After the combined Russian Second Pacific Squadron completed its 18,000 nautical mile journey, it was already in poor shape. The crews were exhausted and the ships had been pushed to their limit. Meanwhile, the Japanese Combined Fleet under the command of Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō was more than ready.

The Battle of Tsushima began in the pre-dawn hours of May 27, 1905, and continued into the early hours of May 28. It was the first, and arguably last, battleship vs. battleship engagement.

The image relates to the Battle of Tsushima, fought in May 1905, remembered as the only decisive battleship-to-battleship naval engagement in history. During this battle, Japan’s Combined Fleet under Admiral Tōgō annihilated Russia’s Second Pacific Squadron. Dozens of Russian ships, including battleships and cruisers, were sunk or captured, while Japanese losses were minimal. The clash proved that disciplined crews, superior gunnery, and tactical maneuvering could overwhelm a numerically strong but poorly prepared opponent. Unlike later battles such as Jutland in World War I, Tsushima produced a clear and final result. It ended Russia’s naval presence in the Pacific and established Japan as a modern maritime power. This remains the textbook example of how battleship fleets could determine the outcome of a war. — The Battle of Tsushima in 1905 was the only truly decisive clash between battleship fleets. Japan’s victory over Russia showed how training and coordination could decide a naval war. Image: Public Domain

By the time the smoke cleared, seven Russian battleships had been sunk, while 14 other Russian warships also went to the bottom. Four Russian battleships were also captured. The Russian Navy lost more than 5,000 dead and another 6,000 captured. The Japanese lost just three torpedo boats and saw 117 killed.

It was a humiliating defeat for Imperial Russia, and it was the only truly decisive engagement fought between modern steel battleships.

Battleships in World War I

Despite the hype of HMS Dreadnought, it never saw any combat — while the battleships that the Royal Navy built to further improve upon Dreadnought were also unable to produce a knockout flow during the First World War. The only major battleship engagement of that conflict — the Battle of Jutland — was largely indecisive.

The photograph shows HMS Majestic, a British pre-dreadnought battleship, leaving Mudros harbor during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. She has a broad armored hull, multiple heavy gun turrets, and tall funnels, typical of pre-dreadnought warship design. The Dardanelles Campaign saw several Allied battleships deployed in an attempt to force the straits and support landings against the Ottoman Empire. Majestic was among the warships tasked with bombardments and escort duties. However, the campaign highlighted the dangers of using battleships in confined waters filled with mines, shore batteries, and submarines. HMS Majestic was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat later in May 1915, with significant loss of life. The photo captures her at Mudros before her final mission, symbolizing the risks and failures of battleship operations during the campaign. — HMS *Majestic* departs Mudros harbor during the Gallipoli campaign, one of many battleships deployed in the failed naval effort. Within weeks, she would be sunk by a German U-boat. Image: Public Domain

Likewise, battleships had already failed to accomplish their mission during the naval operations in the Dardanelles campaign, which called for an Anglo-French fleet to sell through the Turkish-control Dardanelles Straits and lay siege to Constantinople (Istanbul). The goal was to knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war and open the waterway to aid Imperial Russia.

However, after three pre-Dreadnoughts were sunk, and three more heavily damaged, the Allies changed their strategy and opted to land troops — resulting in the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign. The loss of any additional battleships, despite the potential gain was seen as unacceptable. The Anglo-French fleet was unaware that the Turks were almost out of artillery shells and few mines remained in the waterway.

The photograph shows USS Delaware (BB-28), an early U.S. Navy dreadnought battleship, firing her main guns during a training exercise after World War I. The ship’s massive turrets unleash blasts of flame and smoke as shells are fired, with shockwaves visible across the water. Delaware was one of the original members of Battleship Division Nine, which operated alongside the British Grand Fleet during the war. Her design reflected the early dreadnought era, with a uniform heavy gun armament replacing the mixed calibers of pre-dreadnought battleships. This postwar image captures the impressive firepower that defined these ships, even as naval technology quickly advanced. Although she never fought in a decisive battle, Delaware symbolized America’s growing naval strength in the early 20th century. The photo highlights the destructive capability and imposing presence of early dreadnought battleships. — A postwar image of USS *Delaware* (BB-28) captures her main guns in action during exercises. Image: U.S. Navy

Yet, even had the allies known as much, the French found the losses devastating enough that they feared deploying them. This shed light on a major flaw in the naval planning. Battleships were a major investment, one that naval leaders opted not to risk.

Between the losses at Dardanelles and the stalemate at Jutland, it was found to be better not to risk the warships in combat, which essentially made them expensive platforms that served almost no purpose.

Battleships vs. Aircraft

After the end of the First World War, supporters of military aviation already saw the writing on the wall — aircraft could sink warships. U.S. Army General Billy Mitchell was among those who offered numerous demonstrations, including some where the U.S. Navy attempted to stack the deck in its favor.

The image shows HMS Prince of Wales, a British King George V–class battleship, at sea not long after her launch in 1939. She displays a sleek hull, heavy armor, and large-caliber naval guns in multiple turrets. As one of the Royal Navy’s newest battleships, she was designed to meet the growing threats of World War II. Despite her modern firepower and radar systems, Prince of Wales was sunk on December 10, 1941, by Japanese land-based bombers and torpedo planes off the coast of Malaya. The attack came just days after Pearl Harbor and marked the first time in history that capital ships operating at sea had been sunk solely by aircraft. The photo captures her as a symbol of British naval strength that quickly proved obsolete against modern air power. — The HMS *Prince of Wales* was a British King George V-class battleship launched in 1939 and sunk by Japanese aircraft on December 10, 1941. Image: Public Domain

Mitchell didn’t live to see how vulnerable battleships were to aircraft, but during the Second World War, that fact became crystal clear.

On November 11, 1940, twenty-one canvas-winged Swordfish biplanes, flown from the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, attacked the Italian Navy’s fleet in the harbor at Taranto. It was the first time in history that an enemy fleet had been defeated without ever sighting or engaging the opposing ships.

The photograph shows the wreck of USS Arizona (BB-39) in Pearl Harbor on December 10, 1941, three days after the Japanese attack. The battleship’s hull rests beneath the shallow water, while her superstructure remains above the surface, heavily damaged and blackened from fire. Smoke still lingers over parts of the wreck, and debris can be seen scattered across the water. Arizona was hit by armor-piercing bombs that ignited her forward magazine, causing a catastrophic explosion. The blast destroyed the ship and killed more than 1,100 crewmen, making it the single deadliest loss of life aboard a U.S. warship. This photo documents the immediate aftermath of her sinking, capturing both the destruction and the immense human cost. The image has since become one of the defining visuals of Pearl Harbor. — This December 10 photograph shows USS *Arizona* (BB-39) lying in shallow water at Pearl Harbor following the Japanese attack of December 7, 1941. Her superstructure is twisted and burned. Image: U.S. Navy

That raid was studied by the Japanese Imperial Navy, which then conducted its aerial attack against the United States on December 7, 1941, sinking four U.S. Navy battleships at Pearl Harbor. Two — USS Arizona (BB-39) and USS Oklahoma (BB-37) — were destroyed and unable to be refloated.

Just days later, the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales was also sunk by land-based bombers and torpedo bombers off the coast of present-day Malaysia. The warship had been commissioned less than a year earlier. The era of the battleship was largely over.

The photograph shows rescue crews working on the overturned hull of USS Oklahoma (BB-37) at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The battleship lies completely capsized, with her starboard bilge keel visible above the waterline. Teams of sailors and workers stand on the exposed hull, cutting into the steel in an attempt to reach trapped crew members inside. The Oklahoma had been hit by multiple torpedoes during the Japanese attack, causing her to roll over and sink quickly. Hundreds of sailors were killed, though some were rescued through holes cut into the hull. The image highlights both the scale of destruction at Pearl Harbor and the desperate rescue efforts carried out in the immediate aftermath. — Rescue teams at work on the capsized hull of USS *Oklahoma* (BB-37) seeking to free crew members trapped inside on December 7, 1941. Image: U.S. Navy

No other U.S. battleships were lost during World War II, but it could be argued that they nearly always had significant fighter cover. The Imperial Japanese Navy’s INS Yamato — the largest battle wagon ever to see combat — was sunk by American planes during Operation Ten-Go in April 1945. The lesson was clear, battleships aren’t unsinkable, and aircraft could send them to the bottom.

Battleships Last Returned to Service

At the end of World War II, the United States Navy had 23 battleships, the most ever operated by a single nation. Most ended up scrapped — but all four Iowa-class battle wagons were retained, and brought back to service for use in the Korean War, while USS New Jersey (BB-62) even saw brief service during the Vietnam War. All of the Iowa class returned to service a final time in the 1980s as part of President Ronald Reagan’s efforts to see a 600-ship-strong U.S. Navy.

The photo shows the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) in action, firing her 16-inch main battery guns during a live-fire exercise. Massive bursts of flame and smoke erupt from the barrels as the shells leave the gun turrets, producing shockwaves across the ocean surface. The ship’s deck and superstructure are partially obscured by the smoke cloud, emphasizing the sheer force of the blast. Each shell from these guns could weigh around 2,700 pounds and reach targets more than 20 miles away. The scene highlights the raw destructive capability that made battleships central to naval warfare during World War II and into the Cold War. The bright muzzle flashes contrast against the gray ship and ocean, underlining the violent energy of the firing sequence. This dramatic image captures the power and spectacle of a battleship’s gunnery, even as such weapons became increasingly outdated in modern combat. — USS *Wisconsin* (BB-64) Firing a broadside to port with her 16/50 and 5/38 guns, circa 1988-91. Image: U.S. Navy

All four are now preserved as museums, and while there are calls for the capital ships to sail again, it won’t happen.

The simplest reason is the cost. It would likely take hundreds of millions of dollars, possibly even billions, to upgrade the four aging warships. Time and the elements have taken a serious toll on the warships. In the spring of 2024, $10 million was spent just to repaint and provide a new coating for BB-62. The warship had to be towed by tugs from her berth in Newark, New Jersey to the Philadelphia Naval Yard to complete the work. The work took several months, yet the battle wagon received no major upgrades.

Combat Engagement Center for the USS New Jersey (BB-62), Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, berthed at Camden, N.J., March 11, 2021. The USS New Jersey, a 45,000-ton Iowa class battleship, was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pa. It was commissioned in May 1943 and served in the Pacific during World War II. The New Jersey was recommissioned in November 1950 for the Korean War and served two combat tours. The USS New Jersey was recalled to duty during the Vietnam War and recommissioned in April 1968. From then until April 1969, the New Jersey conducted frequent bombardments along the South Vietnamese coast. The New Jersey was recommissioned in December 1982 and deployed again in combat during the Lebanon crisis of 1983-84 and to the western Pacific in 1986 and 1989-90 to the Persian Gulf area. The New Jersey was decommissioned in February 1991. In 1999, the New Jersey was towed from Bremerton, Wash., to Camden. With nineteen Battle and Campaign Stars, the USS New Jersey is the United States’ most decorated battleship. — Inside the USS *New Jersey* (BB-62), the engagement center reflects the push to keep battleships relevant during the Cold War era. Screens, controls and radar are visible. Image: DVIDS

That brings us back to Russia’s Admiral Nakhimov. Billions have been spent modernizing the Cold War battlecruiser, and yet, Russia has guided-missile frigates that are armed with powerful modern weapons.

Then there is the fact that any massive warship requires an equally massive crew. Retrofitting automated systems could help, but that would be expensive and time-consuming. And even then, each vessel would still need more sailors than most navies can afford to assign to a single warship.

And as mentioned, the battleships would be large floating targets.

Two of the four Harpoon anti-ship cruise missile launchers on the USS New Jersey (BB-62), Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, berthed at Camden, N.J., March 11, 2021. The USS New Jersey, a 45,000-ton Iowa class battleship, was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pa. It was commissioned in May 1943 and served in the Pacific during World War II. The New Jersey was recommissioned in November 1950 for the Korean War and served two combat tours. The USS New Jersey was recalled to duty during the Vietnam War and recommissioned in April 1968. From then until April 1969, the New Jersey conducted frequent bombardments along the South Vietnamese coast. The New Jersey was recommissioned in December 1982 and deployed again in combat during the Lebanon crisis of 1983-84 and to the western Pacific in 1986 and 1989-90 to the Persian Gulf area. The New Jersey was decommissioned in February 1991. In 1999, the New Jersey was towed from Bremerton, Wash., to Camden. With nineteen Battle and Campaign Stars, the USS New Jersey is the United States’ most decorated battleship. — Harpoon anti-ship missiles mounted on the USS *New Jersey* illustrate how the battleship was updated for modern threats. Image: DVIDS

China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other potential adversaries are developing advanced weapons — including carrier-killer ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Yes, battleships could be armed with advanced air defense systems and screened by guided-missile destroyers and cruisers. In combat, the battleship and its escorts would need to do everything right and an enemy would only need to get lucky once!

In addition, those smaller warships can do much of what a big gun battleship can do, and they do it more effectively.

The photo shows the USS Wisconsin (BB-64), one of the U.S. Navy’s Iowa-class battleships, sailing at sea in 1989. The massive warship cuts through the water with her long gray hull and towering superstructure. Visible on deck are the ship’s iconic 16-inch gun turrets, arranged in triple mounts, alongside modern missile systems that were added during Cold War refits. Radar masts and communication antennas rise above the bridge, reflecting her updated role in missile-era warfare. A white wake trails behind the ship as she moves at speed across open water. Despite being designed in the 1940s, her silhouette looks imposing and combat-ready. This image captures one of the last active deployments of a U.S. battleship before the class was permanently retired. — The USS *Wisconsin*, an *Iowa*-class battleship, is shown underway during 1989. Even in the missile age, she remained a powerful symbol of American naval strength. Image: U.S. Navy

There remains a mystique of the battleship — but returning to service a platform that was last designed in the 1930s would make as much sense as bringing back the B-17 and B-24 bombers. A case could be made that we don’t need 16-inch guns when a few missiles can be more accurate. The Age of the Battleship is very much one that is in the past, and as history shows it didn’t last long and the massive floating fortresses weren’t all that effective.

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