While many people might think of the American Navy as the most powerful globally, it is not the largest in terms of sheer numbers. China has the largest naval fleet, followed by Russia and North Korea, with the United States ranking fourth. However, focusing solely on vessel count does not provide a complete picture, as the size, quality, and capabilities of naval ships can vary significantly. For example, most would prefer a single Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier over a dozen Cold War-era Soviet destroyers. When considering combined ship mass, the United States is unrivaled, with a formidable fleet featuring many vessels weighing tens of thousands of tons. In fact, the mass of the U.S. fleet surpasses that of the next 13 navies combined.
To identify the largest vessels in the U.S. Navy, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list of active U.S. naval vessel classes from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, naval vessels, and more, as well as other sources, including Military-Today. The U.S. Navy’s ships are ranked according to their total displacement – the volume of water displaced by the vessel converted to weight in tons. (Draft is the necessary depth of water a vessel needs – it is the vertical distance, in feet, between the waterline and the lowest point of the hull.)
The Nimitz-class and Ford-class supercarriers, which are of similar size, are the largest U.S. Navy vessels and the largest warships in the world. The Nimitz nuclear-powered carriers, with a length equivalent to approximately three football fields, were commissioned into service in 1975. These 10 ships can each hold 60 aircraft and were designed for a 50-year service lifespan. The carrier’s displacement of 114,000 tons is the largest.
As the Nimitz carriers near the end of their operational lifespan, they are being replaced by the new Ford-class carriers which can hold 75 aircraft each and are equipped with improved combat capabilities. While the Ford carriers measurements are comparable in terms of length and width, their total displacement is 112,000 tons.
Other notable vessels in the U.S. Navy include two types of amphibious assault ships and one type of amphibious transport dock, all designed to transport helicopters and deploy Marines and their equipment to shore.
Here are the largest ships in the US Navy fleet:
19. Cyclone-class patrol ship
- Total displacement: 335 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 175.0 ft., Width: 25.0 ft., Draft: 7.5 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 10
- Crew: 30
- Year entered service: 1983
18. Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship
- Total displacement: 1,367 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 224.0 ft., Width: 39.0 ft., Draft: 13.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 8
- Crew: 81
- Year entered service: 2017
17. Freedom-class littoral combat ship
- Total displacement: 3,000 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 378.0 ft., Width: 57.3 ft., Draft: 12.7 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 9
- Crew: 125
- Year entered service: 1991
16. Independence-class corvette
- Total displacement: 3,300 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 418.0 ft., Width: 104.0 ft., Draft: 14.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 12
- Crew: 75
- Year entered service: 1976
15. Los Angeles-class submarine
- Total displacement: 7,800 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 377.0 ft., Width: 34.0 ft., Draft: 32.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 28
- Crew: 134
- Year entered service: 2006
14. Virginia-class submarine
- Total displacement: Surface: 7,800 tons, Submerged: 8,700 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 377.0 ft., Width: 34.0 ft., Draft: 32.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 19
- Crew: 135
- Year entered service: 1987
13. Seawolf-class submarine
- Total displacement: Surface: 8,600 tons, Submerged: 9,140
- Dimensions: Length: 353.0 ft., Width: 40.0 ft., Draft: 36.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 3
- Crew: 141
- Year entered service: 2004
12. Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
- Total displacement: 9,215 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 513.0 ft., Width: 66.0 ft., Draft: 30.5 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 68
- Crew: 380
- Year entered service: 2010
11. Ticonderoga-class cruiser
- Total displacement: 9,600 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 567.0 ft., Width: 55.0 ft., Draft: 33.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 22
- Crew: 330
- Year entered service: 1983
10. Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer
- Total displacement: 14,500 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 600.0 ft., Width: 81.0 ft., Draft: 28.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 2
- Crew: 140
- Year entered service: 1993
9. Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship
- Total displacement: 16,740 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 609.0 ft., Width: 84.0 ft., Draft: 20.7 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 7
- Crew: 413
- Year entered service: 1970
8. Ohio-class submarine
- Total displacement: Surface: 16,765 tons, Submerged: 18,750 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 560.0 ft., Width: 42.0 ft., Draft: 38.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 18
- Crew: 153
- Year entered service: 1985
7. Blue Ridge-class command ship
- Total displacement: 18,875 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 635.0 ft., Width: 108.0 ft., Draft: 26.8 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 2
- Crew: 842
- Year entered service: 1997
6. Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship
- Total displacement: 19,600 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 609.6 ft., Width: 84.0 ft., Draft: 19.5 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 4
- Crew: 825
- Year entered service: 1989
5. San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
- Total displacement: 25,000 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 684.0 ft., Width: 105.0 ft., Draft: 23.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 11
- Crew: 361
- Year entered service: 2016
4. Wasp-class amphibious assault ship
- Total displacement: 41,182 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 844.0 ft., Width: 106.0 ft., Draft: 26.5 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 7
- Crew: 2,979
- Year entered service: 1995
3. America-class amphibious assault ship
- Total displacement: 46,000 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 844.0 ft., Width: 106.0 ft., Draft: 26.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 2
- Crew: 2,745
- Year entered service: 2014
2. Ford-class aircraft carrier
- Total displacement: 112,000 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 1,106.0 ft., Width: 252.0 ft., Draft: 39.4 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 1
- Crew: 4,660
- Year entered service: 2008
1. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
- Total displacement: 114,000 tons
- Dimensions: Length: 1,092.0 ft., Width: 252.0 ft., Draft: 37.0 ft.
- Number in US fleet: 10
- Crew: 5,680
- Year entered service: 1975
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