Separating warship fame from design quality

Which warships other than Bismarck and Tirpitz are overhyped?

The Iowa class and machine-gun cruisers, although the Iowas remained good designs and Yamato's unique 18-inch guns justify much of its fame.

The Iowa class receives disproportionate attention because it was the last large battleship class completed, although it would still rank among the better contemporary designs. So-called machine-gun cruisers are also singled out as overhyped. Yamato receives a qualified exception: its performance was not uniquely exceptional, but it deserves attention as the only completed battleship armed with 18-inch guns. Rarity and survival help explain why some ships dominate public memory regardless of comparative combat quality.