Which major-power warship type packed the most firepower per ton in the Second World War?
Short answerDestroyers are the strongest candidate because they carried guns, torpedoes, and depth charges without the structural weight required for submerged operation.
NotesA submarine may carry many torpedoes, but pressure-hull, ballast, and underwater systems consume weight that does not add directly to its weapon total. Surface destroyers can therefore deliver more varied armament per ton, though submarines gain concealment instead.