World War II involved the better part of the planet in hostilities and horror. Tragically, the war reached across oceans and required the unfathomable sacrifices of servicemembers and civilians alike. However, to take the fight to the enemy, the Allied and Axis powers couldn’t simply load soldiers and marines into boats and call it a day. No, no. WWII navy ships in the European and Pacific theaters fought hard for every victory and many made a profound historic impact.

These five WWII navy ships from the United States, Britain, and Japan were pivotal to the conflict’s course and end

Nearly every naval vessel belonging to every military had some impact. Sadly, the sinking of the USS Arizona and other vessels at Pearl Harbor launched the United States into a two-front war. However, a handful of WWII navy ships had a unique impact on the European and Pacific theaters. 

• USS Yorktown (CV-5)
• HMS Rodney (29)
• IJN Akagi
• USS Enterprise (CV-6)
• USS Hornet (CV-8)

The USS Yorktown (CV-5) sank at the pivotal Battle of Midway. However, before CV-5 slipped beneath the waves, she and her crew fought in numerous battles, including the battle for the Coral Sea. Furthermore, the USS Yorktown’s CXAM radar antenna was instrumental in sinking the four Japanese carriers at Midway, per the U.S. Naval Institute. 

HMS Rodney (29), a Nelson-class battleship in the Royal Navy, was instrumental in the sinking of the German Bismarck. The Bismarck, a notorious battleship in the German Navy, was a plague for Allied naval forces until the British sank it in 1941.

Additionally, the USS Enterprise (CV-6), known to some as the “Most decorated ship of WWII,” The United States Navy says the Enterprise earned 20 “battle stars,” the awards the USN gives vessels after engagements. It was also the first USN vessel to sink a full-size enemy vessel at the onset of hostilities in the Pacific.

As far as WWII navy ships in the service of Japan go, the IJN Akagi holds a special place among the fleet. Most notably, the IJN Akagi was the flagship of the fleet that launched the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. However, the Akagi was one of the aircraft carriers the USN destroyed at Midway. 

You’ve heard the proverbs and adages of great military leaders. Napolean Bonaparte allegedly said “An army marches on its stomach.” Furthermore, Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Morale is the greatest single factor in successful wars.” In that vein, the USS Hornet (CV-8) launched the long-shot Doolittle Raid. While the unorthodox attack had little operational value, it proved to Allied forces that victory was conceivable. It also shocked the Japanese with the knowledge that the US could attack them at home. 

However, that isn’t to say that other naval vessels of the period weren’t historic. Take the USS Missouri (BB-63). The Missouri hosted Japanese officials as they signed the “Instrument of Surrender,” signifying the end of the Second World War. Powerful stuff.