Best WWII Battleship

**~~Shipwreck~~** · 08 Jan 07,, 17:08

Originally Posted by smilingassassin

If we really wanted to examine the burster charge we'd have to look at the explosive compund used by each navy to really see the difference.

Explosive type wouldn't make much difference.

**~~Shipwreck~~** · 08 Jan 07,, 17:10

Originally Posted by smilingassassin

Fairly equal ships really but I'd still bet money on the SoDak.

I'd definitely bet money on the USN rather than Reggia Marina

**richardkarlgood** · 11 Jan 07,, 06:43

Definitally the Bismarck

**smilingassassin** · 11 Jan 07,, 06:58

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

I'd definitely bet money on the USN rather than Reggia Marina

Heh, don't blame the Reggia Marina, they'd rather drink Vino and eat a hearty plate of pasta then be Hitlers lapdogs at El Duces request. Their biggest flaw was never seeking to build a significant carrier fleet. Britian often won battles that on paper they could have easily lost if CV's weren't involved. The "unsinkable Italian carrier" certainly didn't have the mobility needed to continue an offensive strategy needed to sucure German/Italian holdings in Africa.

As for ROF your likely correct but I suspect Italian ROF wasn't up to spec either. ;-)

Originally Posted by Shipwreck

I'll check my archives when unpacked to see if I can find the exact figure.

That would be great! Its a tough find.

**smilingassassin** · 11 Jan 07,, 07:02

Originally Posted by richardkarlgood

Definitally the Bismarck

Against Yamato or Iowa? If you had the same marching orders for the Bismarck you wouldn't be able to dis-engage with Iowa and would be forced to engage a faster ship with better fire control and IIRC better optics as well.

**ellebal1111** · 27 Mar 11,, 00:52

The Richelieu would have outperformed the Bismark and the Iowa class, it was the most advance design, although very few know it! Save the experts!!

**zraver** · 27 Mar 11,, 03:14

Originally Posted by ellebal1111

The Richelieu would have outperformed the Bismark and the Iowa class, it was the most advance design, although very few know it! Save the experts!!

Yup, less range, less speed, less throw weight, lacking the proven US naval radars, and a proven weakness to torpedoes, that French ship was superior. I mean its can't run from an Iowa and refuse the fight, if it tries to run it cannot fight, it can't throw more weight of shells at an Iowa, lacks the fire control that let the USS West Virginia land a first salvo hit at 22,400 yards.....

S2 · 27 Mar 11,, 07:05

So your first post here fails to provide an introduction on the new members thread while, instead, necroposting a thread laying dormant for four years and three months.

Read the rules and make an introduction otherwise your time here shall prove interesting but brief...and think of the kitties next time.

**Tzimisces** · 27 Mar 11,, 21:01

Yup, less range, less speed, less throw weight, lacking the proven US naval radars, and a proven weakness to torpedoes, that French ship was superior. I mean its can't run from an Iowa and refuse the fight, if it tries to run it cannot fight, it can't throw more weight of shells at an Iowa, lacks the fire control that let the USS West Virginia land a first salvo hit at 22,400 yards.....

And 2/3 the displacement and an 8" main belt (though inclined). They were meant as counters to the panzershiffe, and aren't even true battleships. Might be more accurate to compare them to the Alaska class.

edit: Whoops! confused Richelieu with Dunkerque.

**USSWisconsin** · 27 Mar 11,, 23:38

Fine ships the Richelieu's - but the Iowa's could have handled them without difficulty, IMO. One SoDak, a smaller variant of the Iowa, did so at Casablanca (Big Mamie vs Jean Bart).

**USSWisconsin** · 27 Mar 11,, 23:53

Originally Posted by USSWisconsin

Fine ships the Richelieu's - but the Iowa's could have handled them without difficulty, IMO. One SoDak, a smaller variant of the Iowa, did so at Casablanca (Big Mamie vs Jean Bart).

The Yamato's, North Carolina's and the SoDak's were the only ships that were in the same league with the Iowa's (the Yamato's lacked the vital fire control systems to be an even match, but made up to some extent in armor and firepower).