The ranking is deliberately personal while still considering more than appearance or fame. The main list asks whether a ship was genuinely good at the job for which it was built, while a separate category makes room for vessels whose histories make them especially memorable. Battleships have their own list, while battlecruisers and fast battleships are grouped because fewer examples survive the test. That distinction helps explain why the discussion ranges from successful fleet designs to ships that are loved despite obvious limitations.
Chapter · 7:57-9:18
How the favourite dreadnought list is organised
The list separates effective battleships, battlecruisers and fast battleships from ships valued for their character and service stories.