A naval battle is a battle fought using ships or other waterborne vessels. Most naval battles have occurred at sea, but a few have taken place on lakes or rivers.
Although the nature of the ships involved has changed drastically, from triremes to sailing ships to battleships and aircraft carriers, many of the tactical principles remain the same, such as the importance of maneuver before the engagement proper, and the desirability of breaking off combat rather than risking the complete loss of a fleet.
What constitutes the largest naval battle of all time has several contenders. See Largest Naval Battle in History for discussion.
See also:
Naval history, List of naval battles, Single-ship actions
