The age of the battleship was characterized by ambition, engineering bravado, and global naval rivalry. Countries strained technology to construct gigantic warships with the capability to be masters of the seas through brute firepower and protection. These were the super-battleships—mountains of warships carrying guns capable of firing shells that weighed several tons. However, as naval warfare progressed, most of these giants remained on paper. Here are four of the most astounding super-battleship designs in history.
4. British Lion-class (1944 Design)
The Royal Navy’s Lion-class battleships were the culmination of decades of planning, redesign, and shifting strategic priorities. The 1944 design was the biggest and most advanced, displacing more than 76,000 long tons and measuring 935 feet in length.
Equipped with nine 16-inch guns in triple turrets, these vessels would have had powerful main armaments combined with rapid-firing secondary guns and sophisticated anti-aircraft protection.
The Lion’s design prioritized light belt armor but supported the deck and anti-torpedo/aircraft underwater protection. With a top speed of over 33 knots, the Lion-class would have been some of the fastest battleships in history. Cost increases and a switch in production toward the aircraft carrier resulted in the program’s cancellation, with only HMS Vanguard, a Lion derivative, being completed.
3. US Montana-class
The Montana-class was the culmination of American battleship design, coming after the Iowa-class with even more firepower and protection. The ships were designed to displace more than 70,965 long tons, carrying twelve 16-inch guns in four triple turrets and wearing some of the thickest armor ever installed—409mm on the belt and up to 10.6 inches on the decks.
Built with the intent of maximum survivability, the Montanas also featured sophisticated underwater defenses and heavy armor. Although five were contemplated, none were ever ordered as the U.S. redirected focus to carriers. Presently, the Montana-class remains a testament to American industrial power and the hasty end to the battleship age.
2. German H-41 Class
Germany’s H-class battleships evolved from earlier ambitious designs, with the H-41 representing the most practical of the super-battleship concepts. Displacing nearly 78,000 long tons and measuring 925 feet, the H-41 would have carried eight 16.5-inch guns, twelve 5.9-inch secondary guns, and a formidable anti-aircraft suite.
German engineers prioritized armor and underwater safety, including the use of torpedo bulkheads and stern reinforcement with additional rudders and skegs. Even with the innovative design, wartime necessity and industrial capacity during World War II meant that the H-41 never progressed beyond the planning phase.
1. Japanese A-150 “Super Yamato”
If the Yamato-class was the height of battleship building, then the A-150 “Super Yamato” was intended to surpass it. Japan built this giant to rule the oceans, fitting six massive guns with heavier armor and increased speed than their predecessors.
Designed to provide naval dominance at the end of World War II, the A-150 was a testament to Japan’s commitment to mass firepower and intimidation. As with most of the super-battleships, it only existed on paper, a symbol of desire and excess in naval warfare.
These four designs show the sheer lengths nations went to gain naval supremacy. While most never set sail, they are potent reminders of human ingenuity—and the boundaries of technological aspiration—on the high seas.