Resembling floating fortresses, warships provides one of the greatest shows of military might often serve as a deterrent to hostilities. With no recorded naval engagement in the last 40 years, most surface capital ships serve a more diplomatic role often carrying out goodwill visits for foreign allies.
Throughout the world, there remain numerous visible shipwrecks that serve to remind us history has not always been so diplomatic. These once proud giants of the oceans provide a historic insight to life on board, roles, and actions of past engagements.
9 USS Indianapolis - Worst Disaster In US Navy History
Shrouded in top secrecy, the USS Indianapolis was lost on her return voyage having previously delivered the first atomic bombs to the pacific. Constructed in 1931, she served throughout WWII, seeing extensive action in the Aleutians and New Guinea campaigns. One of two Portland class heavy cruisers built, weighing 10,110 tons capable of ranges up to 12,000 miles while cruising at 15 knots. Until her discovery in 2018, much mystery surrounded her rapid loss, with two torpedo hits recorded resulting in her sinking in under 12 minutes.
It would be over 70 years before Indianapolis would be found, laying at a depth of 18,000ft below the surface bringing closure to those relatives whose family served on board. Today USS Indianapolis remains a protected war grave in honor of the 900 crew that lost their lives.
8 KMS Bismarck - German Navy Flagship
One of the largest and most powerful ships of WWII, weighing 50,000 tons at full load making her one of the heaviest ships at the time. The main armament consisted of eight 15in guns capable of firing 800kg shells over a maximum range of 22 miles which proved deadly against HMS Hood, taking just three salvos to destroy her. Bismarck would later be hunted down and destroyed cutting short her active service career.
Rediscovered in 1989, Bismarck lays upright on the seabed 400 miles from the coast of France with very little evidence of battle damage. Missing her main armament and some of the superstructure, her hull remains intact leading many to speculate she was scuttled and not sunk by the Royal Navy.
7 USS Saratoga CV-3 - Cruiser Turned Carrier
One of two Lexington class carriers built on converted cruiser hulls, the USS Saratoga launched in her CV-3 configuration in 1922. Designed to be a fast carrier operating at speeds of 33 knots Saratoga relied on speed for her defense while operating her air wing 78 aircraft.
By carrier standards, US Saratoga was obsolete by the end of WWII and would be converted to a training vessel before her last operational troop transport role in 1945. Eventually utilized as a target vessel during Operation Crossroads, sinking after a second atomic test blast.
6 KMS Prinz Eugen - Post War Atomic Test Target
Serving as escort to Bismarck, Prinz Eugen survived Operation Rheinubung continuing her primary mission to intercept Allied shipping. Constructed as part of the Hipper class cruisers, Prinz Eugen was designed for speed over armament though she still carried eight 8-inch guns mounted in super firing twin turrets. Serving throughout WW2 with varying levels of success, Prinz Eugen survived the campaign only to be transferred to US service at the end of 1945.
The wreckage of Prinz Eugen remains visible today, the US Navy had no operational purpose for the cruiser, using the vessel for atomic weapons testing in July 1946 she survived two blasts. Fearing radioactive contamination Prinz Eugen was towed to Kwajalein Atoll where she later capsized.
5 IJN Sen-Toku I-400 - Largest Diesel Powered Submarine
Designed to operate globally, I-400 class boats are the largest diesel submarines ever produced measuring 400 feet long and are only eclipsed by larger nuclear-powered vessels. Bearing its unique bulge style aircraft hanger, Sen-Toku class boats could operate up to three marine seaplanes intended for airborne torpedo attack sorties.
Completed in reduced numbers only three Sen-Toku class boast was completed with the wreckage of I-400 located in 2013 off the coast of Oahu. Missing her hanger and parts of the superstructure it is not clear what caused her loss.
4 USS Utah BB-31 - Dreadnought Class Training Ship
Already decommissioned in 1931 with her main armament removed, USS Utah was towed to Pearl Harbor to remain as a gunnery training vessel. One of two Florida class dreadnought battleships launched in 1911, severely outdated by the outbreak of WWII, too slow, and lacking modern armament to be effective in operations.
Being moored in the wrong place at the wrong time, USS Utah remains where she sank in 1941 to the west of Ford Island, the normal anchoring site for the US Carriers. Ignored by the first wave of aircraft, the second struck home with two torpedos causing uncontrolled flooding resulting in her capsizing. Later salvage attempted were unsuccessful with the site recognized as a war grave,
3 HMHS Britannic - Uncontrolled Flooding Procedures
During hostilities commercial shipping often finds its way into military service, with liners serving as either troop transports or hospital ships. HMHS Britannic served in the latter role ferrying wounded personnel from the eastern Mediterranean back to England. Her final voyage taking place in later 1916 on route to Lemnos.
Fatally damaged by a German mine, HMHS Britannic succumbed to uncontrolled flooding in just 55 minutes. Like her famous sister ship Titanic, Britannic also featured watertight bulkheads designed to contain flooding, although later dives would reveal many of these failed to close sealing the liner's fate. Britannic remains listed as a war grave off the coast of Kea Island.
2 IJN Kikuzuki - Speed Comes At A Price
Destroyers sacrifice defensive armor for speed with their primary role to escort larger capital ships. One of 12 Mutsuki class boats built, IJN Kikuzi originally served in the invasion of Guam before returning to Truk in 1942. Japanese destroyers were among the fastest vessels in WWII with IJN Kikuzui capable of reaching 37 knots.
During Operation Mo, IJN Kikuzuki while docked at Tulagi harbor came under torpedo attack from USS Yorktown, badly damaged she was towed and beached on Gustav Island allowing her crew to escape, Her hull later sliding back into the water where she remains today.
1 HMS Royal Oak - Home Fleet Vulnerability
Launched in 1914, HMS Royal Oak a Revenge class battleship a veteran of the Battle of Jutland would prove to be too slow for main fleet duties being stationed with the home fleet instead. Remaining in Scapa Flow performing AA duties would be Royal Oaks the last deployment becoming one of the earliest casualties of WWII.
Scapa Flow served as the Royal Navy's home fleet base, believed to be safe from the German U-b0at attack due to the number of sunken blockade ships. Gunther Prien proved otherwise guiding his vessel U-47 into the protected harbor, sinking HMS Royal Oak before making good his escape.