Post by vegalyra on Feb 20, 2020 19:16:03 GMT
Let's just hypothesize and the British sent out various battleships alone to scout out for the Bismarck. Which of any of the battleship types that British possessed at that time would have had a chance against a one on one fight against the Bismarck?
Bismarck class:
Type: Fast battleship
Displacement:
Bismarck:
41,700 t (41,000 long tons) standard
50,300 t (49,500 long tons) full load
Tirpitz:
42,900 t (42,200 long tons) standard
52,600 t (51,800 long tons) full load
Length:
241.60 m (792 ft 8 in) waterline
251 m (823 ft 6 in) overall
Beam: 36 m (118 ft 1 in)
Draft: 9.30 m (30 ft 6 in) standard
Installed power:
12 Wagner superheated boilers
Bismarck:[1] 148,120 shp (110,450 kW)
Tirpitz:[1] 160,795 shp (119,905 kW)
Propulsion:
3 geared steam turbines
3 three-blade propellers
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:
Bismarck: 8,525 nmi (15,788 km; 9,810 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Tirpitz: 8,870 nmi (16,430 km; 10,210 mi) at 19 kn
Complement:
103 officers
1,962 enlisted men
Armament:
8 × 38 cm (15 in) SK C/34 (4 × 2)
12 × 15 cm (5.9 in) SK C/28 (6 × 2)
16 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/33 (8 × 2)
16 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 (8 × 2)
20 × 2 cm (0.79 in) FlaK 30 (20 × 1)
Armor:
Bulkheads: 220 mm (9 in)
Belt: 320 mm (12.6 in)
Turrets: 360 mm (14 in)
Main deck: 100 to 120 mm (3.9 to 4.7 in)
Aircraft carried: 4 × Arado Ar 196
Aviation facilities: 1 double-ended catapult
Queen Elizabeth class:
Type: Battleship
Displacement:
32,590 long tons (33,110 t) (normal)
33,260 long tons (33,790 t) (Deep load)
Length: 643 ft 9 in (196.2 m) (o/a)
Beam: 90 ft 7 in (27.6 m)
Draught: 33 ft 7 in (10.2 m) (deep load)
Installed power:
56,000 shp (42,000 kW)
24 water-tube boilers
Propulsion: 4 Shafts; 2 steam turbine sets
Speed: 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Range: 5,000 nmi (9,260 km; 5,750 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement:
923–951 (as completed)
1,249–1,262 (as flagships, 1920)
Armament:
4 × twin 15 in (381 mm) guns
12 or 14 × single 6 in (152 mm) guns
2 × single 3 in (76 mm) AA guns
4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:
Waterline belt: 13 in (330 mm)
Deck: 1–3 in (25–76 mm)
Barbettes: 7–10 in (178–254 mm)
Gun turrets: 11–13 in (279–330 mm)
Conning tower: 13 in (330 mm)
Royal Sovereign Class (Revenge Class)
Class and type: Superdreadnought battleship
Displacement:
29,590 long tons (30,060 t)
32,820 long tons (33,350 t) (Deep load)
Length: 620 ft 7 in (189.2 m)
Beam: 88 ft 6 in (27 m)
Draught: 33 ft 7 in (10.2 m) (Deep load)
Installed power:
40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
18 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Propulsion: 4 shafts; 2 steam turbine sets
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range: 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Crew: 940 (1917)
Armament:
4 × twin 15 in (381 mm) guns
14 × single 6 in (152 mm) guns
2 × single 3 in (76 mm) AA guns
4 × single 47 mm (1.9 in) 3-pdr guns
4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:
Waterline belt: 13 in (330 mm)
Deck: 1–4 in (25–102 mm)
Barbettes: 6–10 in (152–254 mm)
Gun turrets: 11–13 in (279–330 mm)
Conning tower: 3–11 in (76–279 mm)
Bulkheads: 4 to 6 in (102 to 152 mm)
Nelson Class:
Type: Battleship
Displacement:
33,300 long tons (33,800 t) (standard)
37,780 long tons (38,390 t) (full load)
Length: 709 ft 10 in (216.4 m) o/a
Beam: 106 ft (32.3 m)
Draught: 30 ft 4 in (9.2 m) (mean standard)
Installed power:
8 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
45,000 shp (34,000 kW)
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed: 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Range: 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement:
1,314 (private ship)
1,361 (flagship)
Armament:
3 × triple 16 in (406 mm) guns
6 × twin 6 in (152 mm) guns
6 × single 4.7 in (120 mm) AA guns
8 × single 2 pdr (40 mm (1.6 in)) AA guns
2 × 24.5 in (622 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:
Waterline belt: 13–14 in (330–356 mm)
Deck: 4.25–6.25 in (108–159 mm)
Barbettes: 12–15 in (305–381 mm)
Gun turrets: 9–16 in (229–406 mm)
Conning tower: 6–14 in (152–356 mm)
Bulkheads: 4–12 in (102–305 mm)
King George V class:
Class and type: King George V-class battleship
Displacement: 42,245 long tons (42,923 t) deep load
Length:
745 ft 1 in (227.1 m) (overall)
700 ft 1 in (213.4 m) (waterline)
Beam: 103 ft 2.5 in (31.5 m)
Draught: 33 ft 7.5 in (10.2 m)
Installed power: 110,000 shp (82,000 kW)
Propulsion:
8 Admiralty 3-drum small-tube boilers
4 sets Parsons geared turbines
Speed: 28.3 knots (52.4 km/h; 32.6 mph)
Range: 15,600 nmi (28,900 km; 18,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 1422 (1941)
Sensors and
processing systems:
Type 281 air warning radar
Type 273 surface warning radar
Type 284 radar.
4 × Type 285 gunnery radar.
6 × Type 282 radar for "pom-pom" direction.
Armament:
10 × BL 14 in (356 mm) Mark VII guns
16 × QF 5.25 in (133 mm) Mk. I DP guns
64 × QF 2 pdr 40 mm (1.6 in) Mk.VIII AA guns
10 × 40-mm Bofors
36 × 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA guns (1945)
Armour:
Main Belt: 14.7 inches (373 mm)
Lower belt: 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Deck: 4.88–5.88 inches (124–149 mm)
Main turrets: 12.75 inches (324 mm)
Barbettes: 12.75 inches (324 mm)
Bulkheads: 10–12 inches (254–305 mm)
Conning tower: 3–4 inches (76–102 mm).[2]
Aircraft carried: 4 × Supermarine Walrus seaplanes
Aviation facilities: 1 × double-ended catapult (removed early 1944)
My guess is none of the British ships would have been up to the task except maybe the HMS Nelson/Rodney with their 16" guns as long as they didn't take a full broadside. Their lack of speed would have been a hindrance though.
Bismarck class:
Type: Fast battleship
Displacement:
Bismarck:
41,700 t (41,000 long tons) standard
50,300 t (49,500 long tons) full load
Tirpitz:
42,900 t (42,200 long tons) standard
52,600 t (51,800 long tons) full load
Length:
241.60 m (792 ft 8 in) waterline
251 m (823 ft 6 in) overall
Beam: 36 m (118 ft 1 in)
Draft: 9.30 m (30 ft 6 in) standard
Installed power:
12 Wagner superheated boilers
Bismarck:[1] 148,120 shp (110,450 kW)
Tirpitz:[1] 160,795 shp (119,905 kW)
Propulsion:
3 geared steam turbines
3 three-blade propellers
Speed: 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:
Bismarck: 8,525 nmi (15,788 km; 9,810 mi) at 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Tirpitz: 8,870 nmi (16,430 km; 10,210 mi) at 19 kn
Complement:
103 officers
1,962 enlisted men
Armament:
8 × 38 cm (15 in) SK C/34 (4 × 2)
12 × 15 cm (5.9 in) SK C/28 (6 × 2)
16 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/33 (8 × 2)
16 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 (8 × 2)
20 × 2 cm (0.79 in) FlaK 30 (20 × 1)
Armor:
Bulkheads: 220 mm (9 in)
Belt: 320 mm (12.6 in)
Turrets: 360 mm (14 in)
Main deck: 100 to 120 mm (3.9 to 4.7 in)
Aircraft carried: 4 × Arado Ar 196
Aviation facilities: 1 double-ended catapult
Queen Elizabeth class:
Type: Battleship
Displacement:
32,590 long tons (33,110 t) (normal)
33,260 long tons (33,790 t) (Deep load)
Length: 643 ft 9 in (196.2 m) (o/a)
Beam: 90 ft 7 in (27.6 m)
Draught: 33 ft 7 in (10.2 m) (deep load)
Installed power:
56,000 shp (42,000 kW)
24 water-tube boilers
Propulsion: 4 Shafts; 2 steam turbine sets
Speed: 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Range: 5,000 nmi (9,260 km; 5,750 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement:
923–951 (as completed)
1,249–1,262 (as flagships, 1920)
Armament:
4 × twin 15 in (381 mm) guns
12 or 14 × single 6 in (152 mm) guns
2 × single 3 in (76 mm) AA guns
4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:
Waterline belt: 13 in (330 mm)
Deck: 1–3 in (25–76 mm)
Barbettes: 7–10 in (178–254 mm)
Gun turrets: 11–13 in (279–330 mm)
Conning tower: 13 in (330 mm)
Royal Sovereign Class (Revenge Class)
Class and type: Superdreadnought battleship
Displacement:
29,590 long tons (30,060 t)
32,820 long tons (33,350 t) (Deep load)
Length: 620 ft 7 in (189.2 m)
Beam: 88 ft 6 in (27 m)
Draught: 33 ft 7 in (10.2 m) (Deep load)
Installed power:
40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
18 Babcock & Wilcox boilers
Propulsion: 4 shafts; 2 steam turbine sets
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Range: 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Crew: 940 (1917)
Armament:
4 × twin 15 in (381 mm) guns
14 × single 6 in (152 mm) guns
2 × single 3 in (76 mm) AA guns
4 × single 47 mm (1.9 in) 3-pdr guns
4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:
Waterline belt: 13 in (330 mm)
Deck: 1–4 in (25–102 mm)
Barbettes: 6–10 in (152–254 mm)
Gun turrets: 11–13 in (279–330 mm)
Conning tower: 3–11 in (76–279 mm)
Bulkheads: 4 to 6 in (102 to 152 mm)
Nelson Class:
Type: Battleship
Displacement:
33,300 long tons (33,800 t) (standard)
37,780 long tons (38,390 t) (full load)
Length: 709 ft 10 in (216.4 m) o/a
Beam: 106 ft (32.3 m)
Draught: 30 ft 4 in (9.2 m) (mean standard)
Installed power:
8 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
45,000 shp (34,000 kW)
Propulsion: 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Speed: 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)
Range: 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement:
1,314 (private ship)
1,361 (flagship)
Armament:
3 × triple 16 in (406 mm) guns
6 × twin 6 in (152 mm) guns
6 × single 4.7 in (120 mm) AA guns
8 × single 2 pdr (40 mm (1.6 in)) AA guns
2 × 24.5 in (622 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:
Waterline belt: 13–14 in (330–356 mm)
Deck: 4.25–6.25 in (108–159 mm)
Barbettes: 12–15 in (305–381 mm)
Gun turrets: 9–16 in (229–406 mm)
Conning tower: 6–14 in (152–356 mm)
Bulkheads: 4–12 in (102–305 mm)
King George V class:
Class and type: King George V-class battleship
Displacement: 42,245 long tons (42,923 t) deep load
Length:
745 ft 1 in (227.1 m) (overall)
700 ft 1 in (213.4 m) (waterline)
Beam: 103 ft 2.5 in (31.5 m)
Draught: 33 ft 7.5 in (10.2 m)
Installed power: 110,000 shp (82,000 kW)
Propulsion:
8 Admiralty 3-drum small-tube boilers
4 sets Parsons geared turbines
Speed: 28.3 knots (52.4 km/h; 32.6 mph)
Range: 15,600 nmi (28,900 km; 18,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 1422 (1941)
Sensors and
processing systems:
Type 281 air warning radar
Type 273 surface warning radar
Type 284 radar.
4 × Type 285 gunnery radar.
6 × Type 282 radar for "pom-pom" direction.
Armament:
10 × BL 14 in (356 mm) Mark VII guns
16 × QF 5.25 in (133 mm) Mk. I DP guns
64 × QF 2 pdr 40 mm (1.6 in) Mk.VIII AA guns
10 × 40-mm Bofors
36 × 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA guns (1945)
Armour:
Main Belt: 14.7 inches (373 mm)
Lower belt: 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Deck: 4.88–5.88 inches (124–149 mm)
Main turrets: 12.75 inches (324 mm)
Barbettes: 12.75 inches (324 mm)
Bulkheads: 10–12 inches (254–305 mm)
Conning tower: 3–4 inches (76–102 mm).[2]
Aircraft carried: 4 × Supermarine Walrus seaplanes
Aviation facilities: 1 × double-ended catapult (removed early 1944)
My guess is none of the British ships would have been up to the task except maybe the HMS Nelson/Rodney with their 16" guns as long as they didn't take a full broadside. Their lack of speed would have been a hindrance though.
