Battleships

new battleships carried 16 inch main guns, and the Yamato (Japan) carried 18.1 inch guns. The secondary batteries of guns were dual purpose, in the four to six inch range, useful for shore bombardment or to defend against aircraft. Also available for aircraft defense were 'light' automatic weapons, .50 caliber to 40mm, that eventually made the ships bristle like hedgehogs. Defense against submarines was provided by escort vessels, specialized for that task.

Modern battleships reigned supreme for only 40 years, from the launching of Dreadnought to the attack on Taranto, Italy by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. The battleship Cavour became the first battleship to be sunk by enemy air action, but she would not be the last. Air power became dominant and submarines also sunk far more tonnage than battleships. The battleship continued to have a place in warfare, but their day was over.

For specifications on the world's fighting vessels, go to: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aj.cashmore/sh... This well laid out site has plenty of statistics and pictures, on all types of warships.

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