Why USS Enterprise is a candidate for fastest surface warship

What was the fastest warship ever built?

For a major surface warship, probably USS Enterprise, although classified or undeclared maximum speeds make a definitive record difficult.

The category boundary matters because hydrofoils and missile boats can be exceptionally fast without fitting the usual meaning of a major surface warship. Within that narrower category, USS Enterprise is the leading candidate, since her narrow hull and immense installed power made unusually high speed possible. Modern warships' true maximum speeds are often not publicly declared, so the conclusion remains provisional.