acorazados

Acorazados, commonly known as battleships, were large armored warships that dominated naval warfare from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. These heavily armed and protected vessels served as the capital ships of major naval fleets worldwide.

The term "acorazado" originates from Spanish, meaning "armored," and refers to the thick steel plating that protected these warships from enemy fire. Early acorazados evolved from ironclad warships of the 1860s, incorporating increasingly sophisticated armor systems and more powerful artillery. By the 1890s, modern battleships featured multiple gun turrets mounting large-caliber cannons, typically ranging from 12 to 18 inches in diameter.

During World War I, acorazados played crucial roles in major naval engagements such as the Battle of Jutland. However, the effectiveness of these vessels began to decline with the rise of naval aviation and submarine warfare. The sinking of several battleships by aircraft and torpedoes demonstrated their vulnerability to newer military technologies.

World War II marked both the pinnacle and decline of acorazado warfare. Famous vessels like the German Bismarck, Japanese Yamato, and American Iowa-class ships represented the ultimate development of battleship technology. Yet by the war's end, aircraft carriers had clearly supplanted battleships as the dominant force in naval combat.

Most acorazados were decommissioned between the 1940s and 1960s, though a few remained in service longer. The Iowa-class ships, for example, saw limited action during the Korean War and even participated in operations during the 1980s before final retirement.

Today, surviving acorazados serve primarily as museum ships, preserved as historical monuments. Notable examples include the USS Missouri and USS Iowa in the United States, and the HMS Belfast in the United Kingdom. These vessels represent a pivotal era in naval military history when massive firepower and armor defined sea-based military strategy.