The fastest surface warship question

What was the fastest surface warship ever built?

By declared speed, probably an Abdiel-class fast minelayer, though some nuclear cruisers may have exceeded the public record.

The panel identifies the Abdiel class as the likely holder of the declared surface-warship speed record. It cautions that large nuclear-powered cruisers may have achieved higher speeds not reflected in public figures. The discussion also distinguishes maximum speed from the separate shipbuilding record for assembling a vessel quickly. That wartime minelayer remains a demanding speed benchmark for later fast combatants.