Fastest Aircraft Carriers and Battleships in the World

Aircraft Carriers and Battleships – An Introduction

When it comes to navy weapons the most bulky and large ones belong to the sea. Yes, we are referring to the aircraft carriers and battleships. What comes to the readers’ mind when we say aircraft carriers? A huge ship with a take-off and landing strip and a number of aircrafts on the deck, right? Does it ever appear that these can be fast? Not really, I guess. We’ll put that hypothesis to test in a while.

Now, about battleships – what is the main difference between them and the aircraft carriers? They are built for the same reason. To launch an offensive on enemy shores, however, aircraft carrier, as expected will be larger than the battleships and in some cases will be guarded by the battleships. In that sense the battleships are the first line of offense.

It is not hard to understand that at the aircraft carrier’s mammoth proportions, it would be an easy target for enemy missiles and hence the battleships and destroyers form a defense around it. While simultaneously attacking enemy positions. Their formation is to overwhelm enemy defense.

Let’s now get to know the Titans.

Fastest: Caspian Sea Monster

This is the fastest battleship class of vessels which once did duty with the USSR. Not many would have expected to see this here, forget expectation, not many would have known that something of this kind existed. See the video to get to know the Caspian Sea Monster.

See the Caspian Sea Monster in action here

The Caspian Sea Monster is an Ekranoplan or Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV). It literally flies meters above the sea surface to take advantage of the Ground Effect and therefore, lesser downward push on their wings. Because they are flying, the achieve flight speeds on the surface of water. Many would have heard of ships which could fly in fairy tales, well, this one is for real!

The Caspian Sea Monster can do a top speed 650 kmph and cruise at 430 kmph. That is nearly as fast as the commercial jet flights that fly our air today.

Second Fastest: MD – 160 (Lun - Class Ekranoplan)

This is a second Ekranoplan, again from USSR, and has some real deadly missiles with it. You can see the video showing it firing missiles.

See the MD - 160 matching speed with an aircraft at 0:29 sec

What is surprising is that these were really cool form of transport but were discontinued once the USSR split up in the 90s. Can you imagine ships doing aircraft speeds? Don’t imagine, these vessels literally did.

The MD – 160 could do a top speed of 550 kmph and could cruise at 450 kmph.

Third Fastest: USS New Jersey

Here comes a battleship to the list and the current Guinness Book World Record holder for the fastest speed for any battleship in the world. What’s more interesting is that the ship maintained the top speed for six hours while testing and did a good job at it. Now, those of us knowing the difference between top speed and cruise speed would realize that top speed is for sailing at spurts while cruising speed is for the more of the sustained sailing. In that sense a top speed sustained over six hours is a great achievement knowing very well, that these ships are also quite heavy. Imagine the strain on the engine!

The USS New Jersey could do a top speed of 65.2 kmph and sustained speed of 56 kmph. I know sounds puny speed in comparison to the Ekranoplan.

Fourth Fastest: USS Enterprise

This is the first aircraft carrier on the list and the fastest among them. There is one other distinction accorded to this aircraft carrier. This one is the longest aircraft carrier ever built and continues to be so, with no other country planning to build anything longer. A comparative chart of all the longest ships in the world, will show the USS Enterprise. Take a look at the picture below.

The USS Enterprise, like I said, was the longest navy ship ever built. Interestingly, it is also the fastest. How many times have we seen the biggest vessel also being the fastest? Not many I am sure. Here is the picture of the USS Enterprise.

The USS Enterprise could do a top speed of 62 kmph and cruise at 56 kmph. Not bad, for a ship that big!!

Fifth Fastest: USS Wisconsin

This is another battleship on the list and if stories have to be believed then this ship went faster than the USS New Jersey. Of course, that is not ratified by a third party like the Guinness Books.

So we will go with the recorded speed which was 61 kmph top speed or 56 kmph cruising speed. And those interested in the unofficial speed, it was about 72 kmph. Talk about speed!

Parting Shot

So that completes our list of top five aircraft carriers and battleships. While the list just includes five fastest, the original list has way more aircraft carriers than mentioned over here. Those are fascinating once as well. Readers interested to know about them can read it here.

I hope readers enjoyed reading the article! Have fun!

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Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

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