During World War II, several battleships were known for their high top speeds. Here are some of the fastest battleships of that era:
Iowa-class Battleships (United States): The Iowa-class battleships, which included the USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, and USS Wisconsin, were some of the fastest battleships of World War II. They were powered by four steam turbines and could reach a top speed of around 33 knots (38 mph or 61 km/h).
Yamato-class Battleships (Japan): The Yamato-class battleships, which consisted of the Yamato and Musashi, were the largest battleships ever built. They were equipped with four steam turbine engines and could achieve a top speed of about 27 knots (31 mph or 50 km/h).
South Dakota-class Battleships (United States): The South Dakota-class battleships, including the USS South Dakota, USS Indiana, USS Massachusetts, and USS Alabama, were renowned for their speed. Powered by steam turbines, they had a top speed of approximately 27 knots (31 mph or 50 km/h).
King George V-class Battleships (United Kingdom): The King George V-class battleships, such as the HMS King George V, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Duke of York, and HMS Anson, were the primary battleships of the Royal Navy during WWII. They had a top speed of around 28 knots (32 mph or 52 km/h).
Richelieu-class Battleships (France): The Richelieu-class battleships, consisting of the Richelieu and Jean Bart, were the most powerful warships in the French Navy during WWII. They were capable of reaching a top speed of approximately 30 knots (35 mph or 56 km/h).
It's worth noting that while these battleships were considered fast for their time, their top speeds were achieved under ideal conditions and were rarely sustained in combat situations. Additionally, advances in naval warfare during the war shifted the focus towards aircraft carriers and other types of naval vessels, making battleships less prominent in later stages of the conflict.