Which navy offered the best warship crew accommodation from about 1816 to 1940?
Short answerProbably the United States Navy, whose designers put unusually strong effort into crew accommodation.
NotesThe United States Navy is the strongest candidate because American designers generally devoted more attention to habitability than their contemporaries. Across the broad 1816-1940 span in the question, that sustained design effort matters more than any single class comparison. Crew accommodation emerges as a national priority alongside the requirements of ship size and type.