List of broadsides of major World War II ships
The list of broadsides of major World War II ships is a comparative listing ranking the main armament broadside weight of major vessels in service during World War II. Listed are the broadside in pounds and kilograms (for a single main battery salvo), as well as the range to which it can be fired in yards and kilometres and the maximum rate of fire in salvos per minute. However, the list does not account for the variances in fire control, which by the end of the war was firmly in the Allies' favor with advances in radar technology.
Items are listed in order of broadside weight.
Country | Vessel | No. built |
Main gun: number and caliber |
Broadside weight | Maximum range | Maximum rate of fire (/min) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(lb) | (kg) | (yd) | (km) | |||||
Japan | Yamato-class battleship | 2 | 9 x 46 cm (18.1 in) 45 cal Type 94 | 28,971 | 13,141 | 45,960 | 42.0 | 2 |
USA | Iowa-class battleship | 4 | 9 x 16" 50 cal Mark 7 | 24,300 | 11,022 | 42,345 | 38.7 | 2 |
USA | North Carolina-class battleship | 2 | 9 x 16" 45 cal Mark 6 | 24,300 | 11,022 | 36,900 | 33.7 | 2 |
USA | South Dakota-class battleship | 4 | 9 x 16" 45 cal Mark 6 | 24,300 | 11,022 | 36,900 | 33.7 | 2 |
UK | Nelson-class battleship | 2 | 9 x BL 16-inch Mk I | 18,432 | 8,360 | 39,780 | 36.4 | 1.5 |
USA | Tennessee-class battleship | 2 | 12 x 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11 | 18,000 | 8,165 | 36,300 | 33.2 | 2 |
USA | New Mexico-class battleship | 3 | 12 x 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11 | 18,000 | 8,165 | 36,300 | 33.2 | 2 |
USA | Pennsylvania-class battleship | 2 | 12 x 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12 | 18,000 | 8,165 | 36,000 | 33.0 | 2 |
Japan | Nagato-class battleship | 2 | 8 x 16" 45 cal 3rd Year Type | 17,992 | 8,161 | 42,000 | 38.4 | 2 |
USA | Colorado-class battleship | 3 | 8 x 16" 45 cal Mark 5 | 17,920 | 8,128 | 35,000 | 32.0 | 2 |
Japan | Ise-class battleship | 2 | 12 x 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type | 17,820 | 8,083 | 38,770 | 35.5 | 2 |
Japan | Fusō-class battleship | 2 | 12 x 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type | 17,820 | 8,083 | 38,770 | 35.5 | 2 |
Italy | Vittorio Veneto-class battleship | 3 | 9 x 15" 50 cal Ansaldo 1934 | 17,559 | 7,964 | 46,216 | 42.3 | 1.3 |
UK | King George V-class battleship | 5 | 10 x BL 14-inch Mk VII | 15,900 | 7,212 | 38,560 | 35.3 | 2 |
France | Richelieu-class battleship | 2 | 8 x 15" 45 cal Modèle 1935 | 15,592 | 7,070 | 45,600 | 41.7 | 2 |
UK | Queen Elizabeth-class battleship | 5 | 8 x BL 15-inch Mk I | 15,504 | 7,030 | 33,550 | 30.7 | 2 |
UK | Revenge-class battleship | 5 | 8 x BL 15-inch Mk I | 15,504 | 7,030 | 33,550 | 30.7 | 2 |
UK | battlecruiser HMS Hood | 1 | 8 x BL 15-inch Mk I | 15,360 | 6,970 | 30,180 | 27.6 | 2 |
USA | Nevada-class battleship | 2 | 10 x 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12 | 15,000 | 6,800 | 36,000 | 33.0 | 2 |
USA | New York-class battleship | 2 | 10 x 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12 | 15,000 | 6,800 | 36,000 | 33.0 | 2 |
Germany | Bismarck-class battleship | 2 | 8 x 15" 52 cal SK C/34 | 14,112 | 6,400 | 38,880 | 35.6 | 2.5 |
France | Bretagne-class battleship | 3 | 10 x 13.4" 45 cal M1912 | 12,680 | 5,752 | 29,090 | 26.6 | 2 |
USSR | Gangut-class battleship | 4 | 12 x 12" 52 cal P1907 | 12,456 | 5,650 | 32,080 | 29.3 | 2-3 |
Japan | Kongō-class battlecruiser | 4 | 8 x 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type | 11,880 | 5,389 | 38,770 | 35.5 | 2 |
UK | Renown-class battlecruiser | 2 | 6 x BL 15-inch Mk I | 11,628 | 5,274 | 33,550 | 30.7 | 2 |
Italy | Andrea Doria-class battleship | 2 | 10 x 12.6" 44 cal M1936 | 11,570 | 5,248 | 31,280 | 28.6 | 2 |
Italy | Conte di Cavour-class battleship | 2 | 10 x 12.6" 44 cal M1934 | 11,570 | 5,248 | 31,280 | 28.6 | 2 |
France | Courbet-class battleship | 2 | 12 x 12" 45 cal M1910 | 11,424 | 5,182 | 25,150 | 23.0 | 2 |
Argentina | Rivadavia-class battleship | 2 | 12 x 12" 50 cal Bethlehem | 10,440 | 4,736 | 24,000 | 22.0 | 2-3 |
USA | Battleship USS Arkansas | 1 | 12 x 12" 50 cal Mark 7 | 10,440 | 4,736 | 24,000 | 22.0 | 3 |
USA | Alaska-class battlecruiser | 2 | 9 x 12" 50 cal Mark 8 | 10,260 | 4,654 | 38,573 | 35.3 | 3 |
Brazil | Battleship Minas Geraes | 2 | 12 x 12" 45 cal EOC | 10,200 | 4,627 | 18,850 | 17.2 | 3 |
France | Dunkerque-class battlecruiser | 2 | 8 x 13" 50 cal M1931 | 9,880 | 4,481 | 45,600 | 41.7 | 2 |
Turkey | Battlecruiser Yavuz | 1 | 10 x 11.1" 50 cal SK | 6,660 | 3,020 | 23,730 | 21.7 | 3 |
Germany | Scharnhorst-class battleship | 2 | 9 x 11.1" 54.5 cal SK C/34 | 6,552 | 2,972 | 44,760 | 40.9 | 3 |
Germany | Deutschland-class cruiser | 3 | 6 x 11.1" 52 cal SK C/28 | 3,966 | 1,799 | 39,890 | 36.5 | 2 |
UK | Roberts-class monitor | 2 | 2 x BL 15-inch Mk I | 3,840 | 1,742 | 32,500 | 29.7 | 2 |
UK | Erebus-class monitor | 2 | 2 x BL 15-inch Mk I | 3,840 | 1,742 | 32,500 | 29.7 | 2 |
USA | 5 of 7 New Orleans-class cruisers | 5 | 9 x 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15 | 3,015 | 1,368 | 30,050 | 27.5 | 4 |
USA | Baltimore-class cruiser | 12 | 9 x 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15 | 3,015 | 1,368 | 30,050 | 27.5 | 4 |
Japan | Takao-class cruiser | 4 | 10 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 2,770 | 1,256 | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 |
Japan | Mogami-class cruiser | 4 | 10 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 2,770 | 1,256 | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 |
Japan | Myōkō-class cruiser | 4 | 10 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 2,770 | 1,256 | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 |
USA | Pensacola-class cruiser | 2 | 10 x 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14 | 2,600 | 1,179 | 31,860 | 29.1 | 4 |
Germany | Battleship Schlesien | 2 | 4 x 11.1" 40 cal SK | 2,504 | 1,136 | 28,040 | 25.6 | 2 |
France | Suffren-class cruiser | 7 | 8 x 8" 50 cal M1924 | 2,360 | 1,070 | 34,340 | 31.4 | 5 |
France | Duquesne-class cruiser | 2 | 8 x 8" 50 cal M1924 | 2,360 | 1,070 | 34,340 | 31.4 | 5 |
USA | 2 of 7 New Orleans-class cruisers | 2 | 9 x 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14 | 2,340 | 1,061 | 31,860 | 29.1 | 4 |
Greece | Cruiser Georgios Averof | 1 | 4 x 9.2" 45 cal Mk X + 8 x 7.5" | 2,320 | 1,052 | |||
Japan | Tone-class cruiser | 2 | 8 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 2,216 | 1,005 | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 |
Italy | Zara-class cruiser | 4 | 8 x 8" 53 cal Ansaldo M1927 | 2,210 | 1,002 | 34,520 | 31.6 | 4 |
Italy | 1 of 3 Trento-class cruisers (the Bolzano) | 1 | 8 x 8" 53 cal Ansaldo M1929 | 2,210 | 1,002 | 34,520 | 31.6 | 4 |
Germany | Admiral Hipper-class cruiser | 4 | 8 x 8" 60 cal SK c/34 | 2,152 | 976 | 36,680 | 33.5 | 5 |
Italy | 2 of 3 Trento-class cruisers | 2 | 8 x 8" 50 cal Model 1924 | 2,080 | 944 | 30,620 | 28.0 | 1.5 |
UK | County-class cruiser | 13 | 8 x BL 8-inch Mk VIII | 2,048 | 929 | 30,650 | 28.0 | 5 |
Italy | Cruiser San Giorgio | 1 | 4 x 10" 45 cal Model 1908 | 2,000 | 907 | 27,300 | 25.0 | 3 |
Finland | Väinämöinen-class coastal defense ship | 2 | 4 x 10" | 1,984 | 900 | 33,140 | 30.3 | 3 |
USA | Brooklyn-class cruiser | 7 | 15 x 6" 47 cal Mark 16 | 1,950 | 885 | 26,118 | 23.9 | 8 |
USSR | Kirov-class cruiser | 6 | 9 x 7.1" 57 cal | 1,935 | 878 | 41,000 | 37.5 | 6 |
Japan | Aoba-class cruiser | 2 | 6 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 1,662 | 754 | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 |
Japan | Furutaka-class cruiser | 2 | 6 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 1,662 | 754 | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 |
USA | Cleveland-class cruiser | 27 | 12 x 6" 47 cal Mark 16 | 1,560 | 708 | 26,118 | 23.9 | 8 |
UK | York-class cruiser | 2 | 6 x BL 8-inch Mk VIII | 1,536 | 697 | 30,650 | 27.9 | 5 |
Japan | Kasuga-class cruiser | 2 | 1 x 10" + 2 x 8" + 4 x 6" | 1,400 | 635 | 19,700 | 18.0 | 3 |
UK | 1936 Town class cruiser | 10 | 12 x 6-inch Mk XXIII | 1,344 | 610 | 25,480 | 23.3 | 6 |
UK | Crown Colony-class cruiser | 11 | 12 x 6-inch Mk XXIII | 1,344 | 610 | 25,400 | 23.2 | 6 |
Argentina | Veinticinco de Mayo-class cruiser | 2 | 6 x 7.5" 52 cal | 1,200 | 544 | 29,855 | 27.3 | |
Denmark | Coast defense ship Peder Skram | 1 | 2 x 9.4" + 4 x 5.9" | 1,154 | 523 | |||
Italy | Abruzzi subclass of Condottieri-class cruisers | 2 | 10 x 6" 53 cal M1934, M1936 | 1,102 | 500 | 28,150 | 25.7 | 4 |
France | La Galissonnière-class cruiser | 10 | 9 x 152 mm (6.0 in) 55 cal | 1,071 | 486 | 28,952 | 26.5 | 8 |
Netherlands | Java-class cruiser | 2 | 10 x 5.9" 50 cal | 1,030 | 467 | 23,200 | 21.2 | |
Denmark | Coast defense ship Niels Juel | 1 | 10 x 5.9" | 1,010 | 458 | |||
Argentina | Independencia-class coastal defense ship | 2 | 2 x 9.4" 40 cal | 1,000 | 454 | |||
France | Duguay-Trouin-class cruiser | 3 | 8 x 155 mm (6.1 in) 50 cal | 1,000 | 454 | 28,540 | 26.1 | 4 |
Japan | Izumo-class cruiser | 2 | 4 x 203 mm (8.0 in) 45 cal | 1,000 | 454 | 19,700 | 18.0 | 5 |
Japan | Cruiser Yakumo (training duties only during WWII) | 1 | 4 x 8" 45 cal | 1,000 | 454 | 19,700 | 18.0 | 5 |
Japan | Cruiser Azuma (training duties only during WWII) | 1 | 4 x 8" 45 cal | 1,000 | 454 | 19,700 | 18.0 | 5 |
Argentina | Cruiser La Argentina | 1 | 9 x 6" 50 cal | 900 | 408 | 25,700 | 23.5 | |
Germany | "K" class cruiser | 3 | 9 x 149.1 mm (5.9 in) C/25 | 900 | 408 | 28,100 | 25.7 | 8 |
Germany | Leipzig-class cruiser | 2 | 9 x 149.1 mm (5.9 in) 60 cal | 900 | 408 | 28,100 | 25.7 | 8 |
Australia | Light cruiser HMAS Adelaide | 1 | 9 x 6-inch Mk XII | 900 | 408 | 21,500 | 19.6 | 5-7 |
UK | Leander-class cruiser | 7 | 8 x 6-inch Mk XXIII | 896 | 406 | 25,480 | 23.3 | 6 |
USSR | Cruiser Krasny Kavkaz | 1 | 4 x 7.1" 57 cal | 860 | 390 | 41,000 | 37.5 | 6 |
USA | Omaha-class cruiser | 10 | 4 x 6" 53 cal Mark 16 & 3 x 6" 53 cal Mark 13 (per side) |
840 | 381 | 25,300 Mark 16 |
23.1 Mark 16 |
5 |
Italy | 3 of 4 subclasses of Condottieri-class cruisers | 10 | 8 x 6" 53 cal M1926, M1929 | 838 | 380 | 24,716 | 22.6 | 4 (M1926) 8 (M1929) |
Japan | Chikuma-class cruiser | 3 | 8 x 6" 45 cal | 800 | 363 | 16,185 | 14.8 | |
UK | Dido-class cruiser | 11 | 10 x QF 5.25-inch Mk I | 800 | 363 | 24,070 | 22.0 | 7 |
USA | 4 of 8 Atlanta-class cruisers | 4 | 12 + 2 wingmount per side = 14 x 5" 38 cal Mark 12 |
773 | 350 | 17,392 | 15.9 | 15 - 22 |
Japan | Cruiser Ōyodo | 1 | 6 x 6.1" 60 cal | 738 | 335 | 29,960 | 27.4 | 5 |
Netherlands | Cruiser De Ruyter | 1 | 7 x 5.9" 50 cal | 721 | 327 | 23,200 | 21.2 | |
Argentina | Coast defense ship General Belgrano | 2 | 2 x 10" 35 cal | 706 | 320 | |||
UK | Emerald-class cruiser | 2 | 7 x BL 6-inch Mark VII | 700 | 318 | 18,750 | 17.1 | 5 |
UK | Arethusa-class cruiser | 4 | 6 x BL 6-inch Mk XXIII | 672 | 305 | 25,480 | 23.3 | 6 |
USA | 4 of 8 Atlanta-class cruisers | 4 | 12 x 5" 38 cal Mark 12 | 662 | 300 | 17,392 | 15.9 | 15 - 22 |
USSR | Cruiser Krasni Krym | 2 | 8 (of 15) x 5.1" 55 cal | 648 | 294 | 20,690 | 19.2 | 6 |
Norway | Coast defense ship Harald Haarfagre | 4 | 2 x 8.2" | 626 | 284 | |||
Netherlands | Cruiser Tromp | 2 | 6 x 5.9" 50 cal | 618 | 280 | 23,200 | 21.2 | |
Germany | Cruiser Emden | 1 | 8 x 150 mm (5.9 in) 45 cal | 600 | 272 | 18,370 | 16.8 | |
Japan | Agano-class cruiser | 4 | 6 x 150 mm (5.9 in) 50 cal | 600 | 272 | 22,970 | 21.0 | 8 |
UK | Danae-class cruiser | 8 | 6 x BL 6-inch Mk XII | 600 | 272 | 21,500 | 19.6 | 5-7 |
Italy | Capitani Romani-class cruiser | 3 | 8 x 5.3" 45 cal M1938 | 577 | 262 | 21,435 | 19.6 | 6 |
Japan | Cruiser Yūbari | 1 | 6 x 5.5" 50 cal | 500 | 227 | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 |
Japan | Sendai-class cruiser | 3 | 6 x 5.5" 50 cal | 500 | 227 | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 |
Japan | Nagara-class cruiser | 6 | 6 x 5.5" 50 cal | 500 | 227 | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 |
Japan | Kuma-class cruiser | 5 | 6 x 5.5" 50 cal | 500 | 227 | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 |
Japan | Seaplane carrier Nisshin | 1 | 6 x 5.5" 50 cal | 500 | 227 | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 |
UK | C-class cruiser | 4 | 5 x BL 6-inch Mk XII | 500 | 227 | 21,500 | 19.6 | 5-7 |