They can rain fire upon enemies with impunity due to their long gun ranges, weather more fire than any other class, and their secondary batteries make short work of any smaller ships or aircraft that foolishly attempt to close the distance without the use of tactics. Large, well-armored warships brandishing massive, main guns and numerous secondary and defensive AA batteries, battleships are the heaviest, and some of the most powerful ships in the game. Sidelined into fire support roles and with the development of long-range missiles, battleships were slowly and completely phased out in favor of aircraft carriers. However, their practical purpose was often questioned their deployments were few and far between due to their costs and the low (depending on opinion) risk-return they were vulnerable to smaller, cheaper vessels and weapons limited by range and accuracy, naval artillery were being increasingly supplanted by aircraft in the long-range ordinance delivery role, arguably the actual role of the battleship.

Incredibly expensive, with massive firepower and protection (and equally manpower-intensive), they were used as a projection of power and a major component of military and diplomatic strategy, creating arms races and being a focal point of naval treaties.

Battleships have traditionally been the flagships of a given nation's navy, originating from the Age of Sail's ships-of-the-line, to World War I's dreadnoughts, to modern day battleships sporting longer ranges, higher speeds, and advanced equipment.

World of warships fastest firing ship