The Best Looking Ship of WWII...

[goodboyladdie]

It's about time we had this argument again...[:D]

The County Class Heavy Cruiser. Elegance and classic lines, lovely high freeboard and well proportioned.

[patrickl]

Agano class CL. [:D]

[Q-Ball]

Yamato was the flat-out coolest ship afloat in WWII, I don't care what anyone says. She looked awesome under speed, and just a completely audacious project. YAMATO!

2nd place: Vitorio Veneto

UGLIEST SHIPS: The Independence Class CVLs. Very useful, but really ungainly looking.

[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Yamato was the flat-out coolest ship afloat in WWII, I don't care what anyone says. She looked awesome under speed, and just a completely audacious project. YAMATO!

Almost right.., but those goofy-looking "barn doors" on her stern knock her down. I'd have to say the Iowas

[hawker]

Bismarck and Hood are the most beautiful ships of that era.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Atlanta class.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

Atlanta class.

Not bad, but that flush deck makes them look top heavy...

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: hawker

Bismarck and Hood are the most beautiful ships of that era.

Hood was a pretty ship; most Battle Cruisers were because their size meant that few compromises had to be made to functionality. The key compromise boat had already sailed - poor armour. Bismark was also a big beautiful girl, but I still think the early Counties shade it when you put everything that makes a ship a looker together...

The Leander Class CLs were little corkers too!

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Yamato was the flat-out coolest ship afloat in WWII, I don't care what anyone says. She looked awesome under speed, and just a completely audacious project. YAMATO!

2nd place: Vitorio Veneto

UGLIEST SHIPS: The Independence Class CVLs. Very useful, but really ungainly looking.

Yamato was impressive rather than beautiful. The Italians did make beautiful ships though...

[Iridium]

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

Yamato was impressive rather than beautiful. The Italians did make beautiful ships though...

I have to disagree, Yamato had great lines. Sadly, few publicly available pictures are able to show how nice it looked. Lemme see if I can find a relative close up that does it justice...

[bradfordkay]

To me it's either the Gneisenaus or the Alaskas.

[Canoerebel]

Why is it that the aircraft, ships, and tanks of the World War II era were the most fascinating ever (or is that an exaggeration?)

[niceguy2005]

For beauty the Japanese made some great ships. One of my favorties is the Tone. The Alaska class BC would get honorable mention, as would some of the Italian warships.

[mdiehl]

Beauty by class:

BB: USS Washington
CA: USS Baltimore
CL: USS Atlanta
DD: USS Fletcher
DE: USS Samuel B. Roberts
Small Escort Class: USCGC Secretary Class Cutters
Small Attack Class: Elco 80' PT
Submarine: USS Gato

[Historiker]

ORIGINAL: mdiehl

Beauty by class:

BB: USS Washington
CA: USS Baltimore
CL: USS Atlanta
DD: USS Fletcher
DE: USS Samuel B. Roberts
Small Escort Class: USCGC Secretary Class Cutters
Small Attack Class: Elco 80' PT
Submarine: USS Gato

Sounds like a true patriot [;)]

[anarchyintheuk]

Have to disagree on the Tones. It looked like someone dropped the deuce on the forecastle and didn't pick it up.

Agreed w/ bradfordkay on the Gneisenaus.

[Iridium]

Well, I guess distant profiles is all I can find at the moment.

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: Iridium

Well, I guess distant profiles is all I can find at the moment.

I like the inventiveness of Japanese designers. No other Navy used sheerline to save weight as much as they did. Yamato was a good looking, well balanced ship. Some elements of her design were almost pure art. Some of the American ships were hideous, although a few were great beauties. Most British Cruisers up to the Colony Class were good lookers. How mdiehl can come up with an all US lineup is beyond me...

[Dixie]

I am going to second the Counties.  There is just something about them that looks 'right'.  Except maybe Suffolk and Cumberland with their cut down sterns....

[Howard Mitchell]

Scharnhorst & Gneisenau. Beautiful lines, perfect proportions, marvellously elegant ships.