British battleships were powerful warships used by the Royal Navy from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. They were designed for naval warfare, featuring heavy armor and large-caliber guns. Notable classes included the Dreadnought, which revolutionized battleship design with its all-big-gun armament and steam turbine propulsion. These ships played a crucial role in major conflicts, such as World War I and World War II. The decline of battleships began after the war, as aircraft carriers and submarines became more dominant in naval strategy. Ultimately, the last British battleships were decommissioned by the 1960s.