The idea of a ship class, a series of vessels constructed to essentially the same design, is a hallmark of the industrial age of naval warfare. Prior to the emergence of the industrial age, individual ships represented the craftsmanship of different yards, and the relationship between design and construction allowed specific builders a great deal of latitude. As the industrial revolution overtook naval architecture, it became easier to create a specific template for the construction of a series of ships that would have effectively the same capabilities, regardless of which shipyard they emerged from or what time they entered service.
This article focuses on five of the most lethal classes of warship to sail the seas. The list concentrates on the first half of the 20th century, a period which saw the two most destructive naval wars in history. Given that an effective naval campaign requires a distribution of different ship types, the list offers one each from the five major types of the era; aircraft carrier, battleship, cruiser, destroyer, and submarine.
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