A warship or combatant ship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a nation. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are typically faster and more maneuverable than merchant ships. Unlike a merchant ship, which carries cargo, a warship typically carries only weapons, ammunition and supplies for its crew. Warships usually belong to a navy, though they have also been operated by individuals, cooperatives and corporations.
The Cannon Shot (1670) by Willem van de Velde the Younger, showing a late Dutch 17th-century ship of the line
Assyrian warship, a bireme with pointed bow circa 700 BC
Diagrams of first and third rate warships, England, 1728
A sailing corvette scale model in the Trianon model collection
A ship is a large vessel that travels the world's oceans and other navigable waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished from boats, based on size, shape, load capacity and purpose. Ships have supported exploration, trade, warfare, migration, colonization, and science. Ship transport is responsible for the largest portion of world commerce.
Feeder ship Iris Bolten at Container Terminal Altenwerder, port of Hamburg, Germany
Fijian voyaging outrigger boat with a crab claw sail
One of the sailing vessels depicted in Borobudur temple, c. 8th century AD in Java, Indonesia
Egyptian sailing ship, c. 1422–1411 BC
