The Warship Documentary

As being armed, warships are made to endure damage and are often much faster and more maneuverable than business ships. Unlike a business ship, which lugs payload, a battleship usually simply lugs weapons, ammunition and supplies for its staff.
In war time, the difference between battleships and merchant ships is often obscured. In battle, merchant ships are often armed and utilized as complementary warships, such as the Q-ships of the First World War and the armed business cruisers of the Second World War. Up until the 17th century it prevailed for merchant ships to be pushed into naval service and not unusual for even more than half a fleet to be comprised of business ships. Till the danger of piracy diminished in the 19th century, it was normal practice to equip larger business ships such as galleons. Battleships have actually also often been utilized as troop carriers or supply ships, such as by the French Navy in the 18th century or the Japanese Navy during the Second World War.
Modern warships are generally divided right into 7 main categories, which are: aircraft service providers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines and aquatic assault ships. Battleships comprise an eighth group, but are not in existing service with any kind of navy in the world. Only the shut down American Iowa-class battlewagons still exist as possible combatants, and battleships in general are unlikely to reappear as a ship class without redefinition.