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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.

Agano class CL. [:D]

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.

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

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

Atlanta class.

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget

Atlanta class.

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

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!

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...

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...

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

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?)

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.

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

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 [;)]

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.

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

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...

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....

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