pinehilljoe
Senior Airman
- 692
- May 1, 2016
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Hi Pinehilljoe: I have a theory that, like torpedoes that also use a fire control computer made by Ford Instrument, 16" guns have a range (how far they go) that far exceeds their ability to hit anything. Can you tell me the longest range at which a 16" gun hit it's target and how many shots were required?Rodney (fired 340 16-inch shells) engaged the Bismarck in May 1941.
Emphasis on "some reports". Yamato hit USS White Plains at 34k yards. Longest ranged ever hit on a moving ship at sea. Capt Sullivans report...Very rarely were 16" BBs used in surface action.
HMS Nelson was first deployed in the North Sea in October 1939, where she may have fired her guns against a DKM formation of cruisers and DDs all of which easily evaded her
Off of Truk atoll 16 February 1944, Iowa and New Jersey engaged the IJN DD Nowaki at a range of 35,700 yards and straddled her, setting the record for the longest-ranged straddle in history. Some reports indicated the near misses caused splinter damage and casualties to the crew, but this is not confirmed in IJN sources. . The Nowaki was able to escape due to the range and her speed. The action against the Nowaki was part of Operation Hailstone. This was the only known surface engagements that with number of straddlesIowa class BBs engaged in. In the action they participated in the sinking of the IJN CL Katori, the DD Maikaze, and the aux CL Akagi Maru.
Emphasis must be on the wording some reports. Not really - this is a fact...Very rarely were 16" BBs used in surface action.
HMS Nelson was first deployed in the North Sea in October 1939, where she may have fired her guns against a DKM formation of cruisers and DDs all of which easily evaded her
Off of Truk atoll 16 February 1944, Iowa and New Jersey engaged the IJN DD Nowaki at a range of 35,700 yards and straddled her, setting the record for the longest-ranged straddle in history. Some reports indicated the near misses caused splinter damage and casualties to the crew, but this is not confirmed in IJN sources. . The Nowaki was able to escape due to the range and her speed. The action against the Nowaki was part of Operation Hailstone. This was the only known surface engagements that Iowa class BBs engaged in. In the action they participated in the sinking of the IJN CL Katori, the DD Maikaze, and the aux CL Akagi Maru.
Yamato had 18.1" guns, not 16", which is the focus of the discussion - and Parsifal was well versed in Naval Warfare history, by the way.Emphasis on "some reports". Yamato hit USS White Plains at 34k yards. Longest ranged ever hit on a moving ship at sea. Capt Sullivans report...
Indeed. Yamatos "hit" on White Plains seems to match timewise with both US and Japanese records. Also I have seen Lundgren mentioning that Kongo scored a hit (target name escapes me now, might be a destroyer) at about 30000 yards. This hit looks like not so well documented as Yamatos though...I think NAGATO was present, too, and may have achieved the longest range 16in hit during this action.
These are difficult to verify due to the dynamic course of the battle. The longest confirmed range hit against a moving target remains an 11in hit from the first triple salvo discharged by SCHARNHORST vs GLORIOUS after 45 sec. Flighttime at ca. 28K yd range (the navigational range at firing time was >30kyd)
I think NAGATO was present, too, and may have achieved the longest range 16in hit during this action.
These are difficult to verify due to the dynamic course of the battle. The longest confirmed range hit against a moving target remains an 11in hit from the first triple salvo discharged by SCHARNHORST vs GLORIOUS after 45 sec. Flighttime at ca. 28K yd range (the navigational range at firing time was >30kyd)
Yes, Washington made short work of Kirishima. Washington used radar for range and optics for line in her FC that night. Less have been said about her shooting before Kirishima had it. She and SD were shooting other Japanese forces at longer ranges resulting in nil of hits...Guadalcanal was a very short range night battle, almost point blank for the 16" 45 cal weapons on Washington and South Dakota. Krishina, armed with 8 14" weapons was armored more against cruiser fire with about an 8" main belt. Washington achieved maybe as many as 20 hits in a five minute period, especially devastating were the near waterline hits. This destroyed much watertight integrity on the second deck and a counter flooding was used to keep the ship on an even keel, the ship now lower in the water suffered progressive and massive flooding above the deck armor. The free water plane created eventually resulted in large instability and capsize.
Washington used radar gun control very effectively and was not damaged in any way during the fight. South Dakota attracted both Krishima and cruiser fire have suffered many non serious maladies form extensive shell hits in the superstructure. None of the several strikes by Krishima on the main armor penetrated. Descriptions of damage on the upper works of Krishima by 16" shells indicated holes and torn metal 10 meters across. The holes below the waterline were quite small by comparison, but internal damage wrecked watertight integrity and caused the eventual loss of the ship.
Maximum range did not just depend on the caliber of the shells. This would be determined by available elevation, initial velocity and ballistic coefficient of the shell. For instance the Alaska's 12" shells with their high sectional density had a range about the same as the 16". For spotting shell fall radar was quite useful, and before that the use of spotter planes.