List of Sunken Battleships

List Of Sunken Battleships

The battleship was the key strategic weapon of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Large numbers of battleships were built by the major military powers, in particular Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Japan, and the United States. Due to the high cost of building and maintenance, most were eventually decommissioned. Only a handful of true battleships have been retained as historical objects today. However, many battleships still exist as sunken wrecks in various stages of decay in the oceans. While most of these ships have long been considered "lost," modern technology and historical interest has drawn more attention to them while they remain relatively intact.

By tradition and maritime law, sunken warships remain the property of the government of the nation that owned them.