User blog comment:Void Samukai/The 7 key BBs in history/@comment-10905876-20160120133721

So, here's my list.

1. USS Main: She was among the first modern American warships, this starting the United States Navy on the path to parity with European navies. Of course, her greatest contribution to history was exploding, thus starting the Spanish American War that established the USA as a colonial power.

2. USS South Carolina: while the Dreadnought and Satsuma both were contemporary designs, with Satsuma being laid down first, South Carolina was the first to demonstrate the modern battleship layout. Though the French deserve a mention for the first use of a super firing gun arrangement.

3. SMS Szent István: another one that made her biggest contribution in death. The SMS Szent István demonstrated that even the mightiest dreadnoughts could be sunk by a mere torpedo boat. This also foreshadowed later developments from the airplane, and its impact on battleships.

4. HMS Queen Elizabeth: the prototype fast battleship, and first oil burner.

5. KMS Bismarck: yet another ship noteworthy for its death. She was arguably the most powerful battleship in Europe at the time, blowing Hood up, then sending the Prince of Wales running tail-between-legs with only a leaking fuel tank is no small accomplishment. But then, the mightiest of battleships is crippled by an old biplane that looks like a relic from the previous World War. Congratulations Bismarck, you're the first ship to be hit by air power while at sea.

6. Yamato: noteworthy due to her massive size. Also, like Bismarck and the Szent István before, Yamato demonstrated how vulnerable battleships were to small craft.

7: USS Missouri: the place where the war with Japan ended. Pretty significant if you ask me. Being part of the fancy Iowa class helps too.

Much of these ships would've been mere footnotes in history had they not been destroyed, rest in peace all who've died at sea.