Attention all naval interested Dopers: What's the most attractive naval vessel, ever

[Bobotheoptimist]

Here’s my boat, but I still think the Constitution (and her sister ships) are among the most attractive vessels ever. The “HMS” Rose (aka “Surprise”), if an accurate representation of the smaller frigates, gets a vote as well.

[OtakuLoki]

I’m with What Exit? on this. I happen to think that my ship was actually pretty good looking, but when she was tied up on the pier over from Wisconsin, there was just no comparison.

[straight_man]

@sturmhauke

Oh, well I was on the USS Pampanito. Here it is.

Hey, me too! (As a tourist – I assume you meant the same.) Still, not the most beautiful craft, though it’s not bad as WW2 subs go. It’s starting to show streamlining, at least.

[aruvqan]

@OtakuLoki

aruvqan, that’s a base canard. Seawolf may not have props for looks, but she gets underway, with regularity. Unlike Building 20. (Am I bitter that we got tasked to take over one of her cruises on 72 hours notice, because they couldn’t get underway? Not at all, why do you ask?) There’s something telling that the motto on the ship’s own website is: “The Most Sophisticated Communications Ship on the Waterfront.”

So there you have it, fugly and immobile. That’s a real naval building.

Having had a hubby duty stationed in Groton since 1990, I saw building 21 in place almost exclusively. The few times she did go underway, she spent most of her cruises parked in various ports undergoing repairs[ reports fron hubbys buddies statioined on her.]. They almost had to scrap the Mr Peanunt because of the many times her parts were hijacked to repair the seawolf.

[casdave]

Couple more for you,

HMS Manchester,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HMS_Manchester_(D95)_Type_42_destroyer.jpg

HMS Trincomalee,

I remember her when she was tied up in Portsmouth harbour as a training hulk for Sea Cadets, she was called HMS Foudroyant back then, and had no masts, bit of a lump but fortunately she has been restored and they did a fantastic job too.

HMS Trincomalee

http://www.nhsc.org.uk/index.cfm/event/getVessel/vref/497

HMS Renown

I’ve always thought that the the Royal Navy tended to have better looking smaller warships than the US, which tend to have less flowing lines.

As proof of this, take a look at the type 22 frigate,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Group_of_Type_22_frigates.jpg

Here’s a couple I did time on,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HMS_Phoebe_F42_(Leander-class_frigate).jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HMS_Galatea_(Leander-class_frigate).jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HMS_Ajax_(Leander-class_frigate).jpg

[Jaochai]

@lokij

I’d really have to disagree with you that the typhoon was the best submarine ever built. They were the quietest Russian built sub but our Los Angeles class attack subs were quieter and had sonar suites 3-4 times as sensitive as theirs. From what I’ve read, we pretty much had every Akula permanently tailed for most of the cold war. I would have say the best sub ever made was the other you mentioned, Seawolf is a monster… just too expensive with no other superpowers around to justify.
Still… in deference to the to Typhoon/Akula, you have to say something about a submarine with it’s own indoor swimming pool.

Not that I know any more about submarines then I learned playing 688 Attack Sub during accounting class, or that I am able to realistically carry a debate about the comparative worth of different Cold-War era naval craft, but in all fairness, the Typhoon (Akula was its Russian name, but it’s also the NATO name for a different kind of submarine, so says Wikipedia) was an SSBN. It was a sort of flagship submarine and was always going to have a flotilla of attack submarines around it to do its sensing and defending for it.

But then again, it, like everything else in the Soviet Union, was a prestige project. Yes, I well remember the guy who came on a few months ago and started on about authoritarian regimes and what he considered was their ability to create great intellectual accomplishments, and I have no intent of resurrecting that fiasco, but c’mon! <beg&plead> Give the Russians their submarines! T’was all they had! </beg&plead>

[Scruloose]

In line with Cisco’s thought, I’m kinda partial to Patrol Boats and tugs.

Patrol boats have that sleek look, giving the appearance of great speed and agility, realities notwithstanding.

Tugs are just stout, tough little bastards that can handle any task put before them. They are the unsung heroes of the maritime realm. Much of the world’s premier naval powerhouses would never put to sea if not for the lowly little tug.

[Old_Goat]

I appreciate the clean lines of this cruiser

HyperWar: USS Chester (CA-27)

[Alessan]

The Sa’ar 5 Missile Corvette. Very modernistic lines.