battleship

Battleship is a type of large armored warship designed for fleet combat and sea control. The concept emerged in the late 19th century as navies moved toward heavily armored hulls and steam-powered, large-caliber guns. The dreadnought class, inaugurated by HMS Dreadnought in 1906, standardized the all-big-gun battleship and accelerated naval arms races. Typical battleship characteristics include thick armor, turreted main batteries of heavy guns, extensive fire-control systems, and high-speed propulsion from steam turbines. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, battleships served in fleet engagements, shore bombardment, and deterrence. Their strategic value peaked during World War II, especially in the Pacific, where capital ships conducted line-of-battle operations before air power and carrier aviation gradually diminished their dominance. In the postwar period, advances in aviation, missiles, and sonar reduced the battleship’s relevance, and most major fleets retired or repurposed battleships by the 1960s to 1990s. A few ships survive as museum pieces or ceremonial ships.

Battleship also refers to a popular tabletop game for two players. In the game, each side hides a fleet of ships on a grid and takes turns naming coordinates to locate and sink the opponent’s vessels. The objective is to sink all ships first. The game emphasizes strategic placement, probability, and deduction. It was introduced by Milton Bradley in 1967 and subsequently released by Hasbro after its acquisition of the company. Variants exist for different grid sizes, handheld versions, and digital formats, and the concept has spawned video games, apps, and other media.