As a result, these ships grew in weight – in the case of the USS Albany, by an additional 5000 tons. A number of Second World War-gun cruisers were converted in the 1950s to carry guided missile armaments and sensors to engage aircraft and missiles. Warships also grow and change based on changes in sensor and weapons technology. All of those requirements forced a much larger ship. Yamato grew to support the tactical requirements to carry nine, 18.1 inch guns to sea, with heavy armor to deflect American 16 inch battleship guns within a given range, and operate at a speed of 27 knots. Forrestal class “supercarriers” in the late 1950s and even these vessels did not equal Yamato’s light load displacement, which was exceeded only by the first nuclear carrier USS Enterprise. Its size as the world’s largest warship was not surpassed until the commissioning of the first group of U.S. These dreadnoughts weighed in at a staggering 64,000 tons displacement and fully-loaded were almost 72,000 tons. One of the best historical examples that explains why warships grow is the case of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Yamato class battleships. Bigger does not always mean better, but it is often required to get all the required capability into one specific unit. Warships grow to meet capability requirements leveled on them by military leaders, civilian chief executives, and legislatures. Neither of these observation/accusations is accurate. Navy in particular desires “larger” ships because its flag officer leadership looks with contempt on small ships. Some defense commentators and news sources like to suggest comparisons between historical versions of a vessel type and its current size. Size does matter in describing warships, and especially the growth of particular classes of ships like aircraft carriers, destroyers, and frigates.
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