warship
Sign in to savethumb|The Cannon Shot (1670) by Willem van de Velde the Younger, showing a late Dutch 17th-century [[ship of the line]]
AI overview
A warship is a military vessel designed and equipped for combat at sea, historically exemplified by ships like the 17th-century Dutch vessels depicted in period artwork. Warships have been important throughout history because they project military power across oceans, protect trade routes, and have been central to naval warfare and the expansion of maritime nations.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
18 sectionsContents
- Types and classes
- History and evolution of warships
- First warships
- The Age of Sail
- Steel, steam and shellfire
- Pre-dreadnought era
- Since 1906
- The dreadnought era
- Obsolescence of battleships
- Cold War-era
- Development of the submarine
- Development of the aircraft carrier
- Development of the amphibious assault ship
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Footnotes
- Bibliography
thumb|The Cannon Shot (1670) by Willem van de Velde the Younger, showing a late Dutch 17th-century [[ship of the line]]
A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is used for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the navy branch of the armed forces of a nation, though they have also been operated by individuals, cooperatives and corporations. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are typically faster and more maneuverable than merchant ships. Unlike a merchant ship, which carries cargo, a warship typically carries only weapons, ammunition and supplies for its crew.