Lyrics of Dreadnought by Sabaton
A shadow moves across the water in pursuit
It splits the waves, commands the sea and defies the wind
Instilling fear among its prey, feels nought for itself
Ahead the sea lies calm awaiting the storm
Displace the water in its path
Reveal the cannons, align the guns, unleash their wrath!
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time their legend will rise
And their foes can’t believe their eyes, believe their size, as they fall
And the dreadnoughts dread nothing at all
A hull of steel and all big guns to serve the fleet
Unrivalled firepower riding the waves to war
A devastating blow will send their foes down below
Fearless armada now bombarding their shore
Light up the night when cannons roar
In fear of nothing, they lead the navy into war!
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time their legend will rise
And their foes can’t believe their eyes, believe their size, as they fall
And the dreadnoughts dread nothing at all
The North Sea has drawn them near
The fleet of the High Seas approach
A contest of titans commence
These days will dictate their fate
The grand fleet prepares their guns
Unleashed as the dreadnoughts clash at last
Unopposed under crimson skies
Immortalized, over time their legend will rise
And their foes can’t believe their eyes, believe their size, as they fall
And the dreadnoughts dread nothing at all
Historical Background
In short: The rise of Dreadnought battleships in World War I.
Dreadnought – The Warships That Changed Naval Warfare Forever
Some ships sail. Others dominate the seas.
Sabaton’s Dreadnought isn’t just about massive battleships—it’s about a revolution in naval warfare. When HMS Dreadnought was launched in 1906, it made every other warship obsolete overnight. And when these steel giants clashed in World War I, they determined the fate of empires.
This is how the dreadnoughts ruled the waves and reshaped history.
HMS Dreadnought – The Ship That Changed Everything
“A hull of steel and all big guns to serve the fleet, unrivaled firepower riding the waves to war.”
Before 1906, battleships carried a mix of small and large-caliber guns. Then came HMS Dreadnought, a British warship that revolutionized naval power:
- All-big-gun armament – ten 12-inch guns that could fire from long range.
- Turbine engines – made it faster than any battleship before.
- Thick armor – could take a beating and keep fighting.
It was so powerful that every navy had to redesign their fleets. “Dreadnought” became a class of battleship—and every old warship became obsolete.
The Naval Arms Race – The Clash of Titans
“The North Sea has drawn them near, the fleet of the High Seas approach. A contest of titans commence, these days will dictate their fate.”
The British Royal Navy and the German Kaiserliche Marine began a naval arms race. Germany built its own dreadnoughts, aiming to challenge Britain’s control of the seas.
By 1914, both sides had fleets of these steel giants, waiting for the moment to prove their dominance.
That moment came at Jutland.
The Battle of Jutland – The Dreadnoughts’ Greatest Test
“Unleashed as the dreadnoughts clash at last!”
In May 1916, the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet met in the North Sea for the biggest naval battle of World War I—the Battle of Jutland.
- 250 ships, including 58 dreadnoughts, fought in brutal combat.
- Explosions lit up the sky as shells tore through steel hulls.
- Both sides suffered heavy losses, but Britain kept control of the North Sea.
The battle proved the power of dreadnoughts, but also showed that naval warfare was changing—submarines and aircraft would soon rule the seas.
Why Dreadnought Still Matters
“Unopposed under crimson skies, immortalized, over time their legend will rise.”
The dreadnought era was short—but its impact was massive.
- It forced nations to modernize their fleets, reshaping naval warfare forever.
- It made battleships the kings of the sea—until aircraft carriers took over in World War II.
- It showed that technology could decide the fate of empires.
Dreadnoughts may no longer rule the oceans, but their legacy lives on in every modern warship today.
The Lesson?
Wars aren’t won by size alone.
The strongest fleets are the ones that adapt, innovate, and strike first.
And in the early 20th century, the dreadnoughts ruled the waves.