List of broadsides of major World War II ships

Last updated

This list of broadsides of major World War II ships ranks the total weight of projectiles that can be delivered in single broadsides by major vessels in service during World War II. Listed are the broadsides 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.

Items are listed in order of broadside weight.

CountryVesselNo.
built
Main gun:
number and caliber
Broadside weightMaximum rangeMaximum
rate of fire
(/min)
(yd)(km)
Japan Yamato-class battleship 29 × 46 cm (18.1 in) 45 cal Type 94 28,971 lb (13.141 t)45,96042.02
USA Iowa-class battleship 49 × 16" 50 cal Mark 7 24,300 lb (11.0 t)42,34538.72
USA North Carolina-class battleship 29 × 16" 45 cal Mark 6 24,300 lb (11.0 t)36,90033.72
USA South Dakota-class battleship 49 × 16" 45 cal Mark 624,300 lb (11.0 t)36,90033.72
UK Nelson-class battleship 29 × BL 16-inch Mk I 18,432 lb (8.361 t)39,78036.42
USA Tennessee-class battleship 212 × 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11 18,000 lb (8.2 t)36,30033.22
USA New Mexico-class battleship 312 × 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 1118,000 lb (8.2 t)36,30033.22
USA Pennsylvania-class battleship 212 × 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12 18,000 lb (8.2 t)36,00033.02
Japan Nagato-class battleship 28 × 16" 45 cal 3rd Year Type 17,992 lb (8.161 t)42,00038.42
USA Colorado-class battleship 38 × 16" 45 cal Mark 5 17,920 lb (8.13 t)35,00032.02
Japan Ise-class battleship 212 × 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type 17,820 lb (8.08 t)38,77035.52
Japan Fusō-class battleship 212 × 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type17,820 lb (8.08 t)38,77035.52
Italy Littorio-class battleship 39 × 15" 50 cal Ansaldo 1934 17,559 lb (7.965 t)46,21642.31.3
UK King George V-class battleship 510 × BL 14-inch Mk VII 15,955 lb (7.237 t)38,56035.32
Chile Battleship Almirante Latorre 110 × EOC 14 inch/45 naval gun 15,860 lb (7.19 t)24,40022.312
France Richelieu-class battleship 28 × 15" 45 cal Modèle 1935 15,592 lb (7.072 t)45,60041.72
UK Queen Elizabeth-class battleship 58 × BL 15-inch Mk I 15,504 lb (7.032 t)33,55030.72
UK Revenge-class battleship 58 × BL 15-inch Mk I15,504 lb (7.032 t)33,55030.72
UK Battlecruiser HMS Hood 18 × BL 15-inch Mk I15,360 lb (6.97 t)30,18027.62
USA Nevada-class battleship 210 × 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 1215,000 lb (6.8 t)36,00033.02
USA New York-class battleship 210 × 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 1215,000 lb (6.8 t)23,00021.02
Germany Bismarck-class battleship 28 × 15" 52 cal SK C/34 14,112 lb (6.401 t)38,88035.52.5
France Bretagne-class battleship 310 × 13.4" 45 cal M1912 12,680 lb (5.75 t)29,09026.62
USSR Gangut-class battleship 412 × 12" 52 cal P1907 12,456 lb (5.650 t)32,08029.32-3
Japan Kongō-class battlecruiser 48 × 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type11,880 lb (5.39 t)38,77035.52
UK Renown-class battlecruiser 26 × BL 15-inch Mk I11,628 lb (5.274 t)33,55030.72
Italy Andrea Doria-class battleship 210 × 12.6" 44 cal M1936 11,570 lb (5.25 t)31,28028.62
Italy Conte di Cavour-class battleship 210 × 12.6" 44 cal M1934 11,570 lb (5.25 t)31,28028.62
France Courbet-class battleship 212 × 12" 45 cal M1910 11,424 lb (5.182 t)25,15023.02
Argentina Rivadavia-class battleship 212 × 12" 50 cal Bethlehem 10,440 lb (4.74 t)24,00022.02-3
USABattleship USS Arkansas 112 × 12" 50 cal Mark 7 10,440 lb (4.74 t)24,00022.03
USA Alaska-class cruiser 29 × 12" 50 cal Mark 8 10,260 lb (4.65 t)38,57335.33
France Dunkerque-class battleship 28 × 13" 50 cal M1931 9,880 lb (4.48 t)45,60041.72
Brazil Minas Geraes-class battleship 210 (of 12) × 12" 45 cal EOC 8,500 lb (3.9 t)18,85017.23
Turkey Battlecruiser Yavuz 110 × 11.1" 50 cal SK 6,660 lb (3.02 t)23,73021.73
Germany Scharnhorst-class battleship 29 × 11.1" 54.5 cal SK C/34 6,552 lb (2.972 t)44,76040.93
Germany Deutschland-class cruiser 36 × 11.1" 52 cal SK C/28 3,966 lb (1.799 t)39,89036.52
UK Roberts-class monitor 22 × BL 15-inch Mk I3,840 lb (1.74 t)32,50029.72
UK Erebus-class monitor 22 × BL 15-inch Mk I3,840 lb (1.74 t)32,50029.72
USA5 of 7 New Orleans-class cruisers 59 × 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15 3,015 lb (1.368 t)30,05027.54
USA Baltimore-class cruiser 129 × 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 153,015 lb (1.368 t)30,05027.54
Japan Takao-class cruiser 410 × 8" 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ2 2,770 lb (1.26 t)32,15029.44
Japan Mogami-class cruiser 410 × 8" 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ22,770 lb (1.26 t)32,15029.44
Japan Myōkō-class cruiser 410 × 8" 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ22,770 lb (1.26 t)32,15029.44
USA Pensacola-class cruiser 210 × 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14 2,600 lb (1.2 t)31,86029.14
Germany Battleship Schlesien 24 × 11.1" 28 cm SK L/40 2,504 lb (1.136 t)28,04025.62
France Suffren-class cruiser 78 × 8" 203mm/50 Modèle 1924 2,360 lb (1.07 t)34,34031.45
France Duquesne-class cruiser 28 × 8" 203mm/50 Modèle 1924 2,360 lb (1.07 t)34,34031.45
USA2 of 7 New Orleans-class cruisers29 × 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 142,340 lb (1.06 t)31,86029.14
Greece Cruiser Georgios Averof 14 × 9.2" 45 cal Mk X + 8 × 7.5" Cannone da 190/45 2,320 lb (1.05 t)
Japan Tone-class cruiser 28 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ22,216 lb (1.005 t)32,15029.44
Italy Zara-class cruiser 48 × 8" 203 mm /53 Ansaldo M1927 2,210 lb (1.00 t)34,52031.64
Italy Cruiser Bolzano 18 × 8" 203 mm /53 Ansaldo M1929 2,210 lb (1.00 t)34,52031.64
Germany Admiral Hipper-class cruiser 48 × 8" 20.3 cm SK C/34 2,152 lb (0.976 t)36,68033.55
Italy Trento-class cruisers 28 × 8" 203 mm /50 Model 1924 2,080 lb (0.94 t)30,62028.01.5
UK County-class cruiser 138 × BL 8-inch Mk VIII 2,048 lb (0.929 t)30,65028.05
Italy Cruiser San Giorgio 14 × 10" 45 cal Model 1908 2,000 lb (0.91 t)27,30025.03
Finland Väinämöinen-class coastal defense ship 24 × 10"1,984 lb (0.900 t)33,14030.33
USA Brooklyn-class cruiser 715 × 6" 47 cal Mark 16 1,950 lb (0.88 t)26,11823.98
USSR Kirov-class cruiser 69 × 7.1" 180mm/57 B-1-P Pattern 1932 1,935 lb (0.878 t)41,00037.56
Japan Aoba-class cruiser 26 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ21,662 lb (0.754 t)32,15029.44
Japan Furutaka-class cruiser 26 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ21,662 lb (0.754 t)32,15029.44
USA Cleveland-class cruiser 2712 × 6" 47 cal Mark 161,560 lb (0.71 t)26,11823.98
UK York-class cruiser 26 × BL 8-inch Mk VIII1,536 lb (0.697 t)30,65027.95
Japan Kasuga-class cruiser 21 × EOC BL 10-inch + 2 × 8" 20.3 cm/45 Type 41 + 4 × 6"1,400 lb (0.64 t)19,70018.03
UK Town-class cruiser 1012 × BL 6-inch Mk XXIII 1,344 lb (0.610 t)25,48023.36
UK Fiji-class cruiser 1112 × BL 6-inch Mk XXIII1,344 lb (0.610 t)25,40023.26
Argentina Veinticinco de Mayo-class cruiser 26 × 7.5" 52 cal1,200 lb (0.54 t)29,85527.3
Denmark Herluf Trolle-class coastal defence ship 12 × 9.4" + 4 × 5.9"1,154 lb (0.523 t)
ItalyAbruzzi subclass of Condottieri-class cruisers 210 × 6" 152 mm /55 M1934, M1936 1,102 lb (0.500 t)28,15025.74
France La Galissonnière-class cruiser 109 × 152 mm (6.0 in) 55 cal 1,071 lb (0.486 t)28,95226.58
Netherlands Java-class cruiser 210 × 5.9" 50 cal1,030 lb (0.47 t)23,20021.2
Denmark Coast defense ship Niels Juel 110 × 5.9"1,010 lb (0.46 t)
Argentina Independencia-class coastal defense ship 22 × 9.4" 40 cal1,000 lb (0.45 t)
France Duguay-Trouin-class cruiser 38 × 155 mm (6.1 in) 50 cal1,000 lb (0.45 t)28,54026.14
Japan Izumo-class cruiser 24 × 203 mm (8.0 in) 45 cal 1,000 lb (0.45 t)19,70018.05
Japan Cruiser Yakumo (training duties only during WWII)14 × 8" 45 cal1,000 lb (0.45 t)19,70018.05
Japan Cruiser Azuma (training duties only during WWII)14 × 8" 45 cal1,000 lb (0.45 t)19,70018.05
Argentina ARA La Argentina 19 × 6" 50 cal900 lb (0.41 t)25,70023.5
Germany Königsberg-class cruiser 39 × 149.1 mm (5.9 in) C/25 900 lb (0.41 t)28,10025.78
Germany Leipzig-class cruiser 29 × 5.9" 15 cm SK C/25 900 lb (0.41 t)28,10025.78
AustraliaLight cruiser HMAS Adelaide 19 × 6-inch Mk XII 900 lb (0.41 t)21,50019.65-7
UK Leander-class cruiser 88 × 6-inch Mk XXIII896 lb (0.406 t)25,48023.36
USSR Cruiser Krasny Kavkaz 14 × 7.1" 57 cal860 lb (0.39 t)41,00037.56
USA Omaha-class cruiser 104 × 6" 53 cal Mark 16
& 3 × 6" 53 cal Mark 13 (per side)
840 lb (0.38 t)25,300
Mark 16
23.1
Mark 16
5
Italy3 of 4 subclasses of Condottieri-class cruisers 108 × 6" 152 mm /53 M1926 or M1929 838 lb (0.380 t)24,71622.64 (M1926)
8 (M1929)
Japan Chikuma-class cruiser 38 × 6" 45 cal800 lb (0.36 t)16,18514.8
UK Dido-class cruiser 1110 × QF 5.25-inch Mk I 800 lb (0.36 t)24,07022.07
USA Atlanta-class cruisers (first group)414 (of 16) × 5" 38 cal Mark 12 773 lb (0.351 t)17,39215.915 - 22
Japan Cruiser Ōyodo 16 × 6.1" 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type 738 lb (0.335 t)29,96027.45
Netherlands Cruiser De Ruyter 17 × 5.9" 50 cal721 lb (0.327 t)23,20021.2
Argentina Coast defense ship General Belgrano 22 × 10" 35 cal706 lb (0.320 t)
UK Emerald-class cruiser 27 × BL 6-inch Mark VII 700 lb (0.32 t)18,75017.15
UK Arethusa-class cruiser 46 × BL 6-inch Mk XXIII 672 lb (0.305 t)25,48023.36
USAOakland sub-class of Atlanta-class cruisers 412 × 5" 38 cal Mark 12662 lb (0.300 t)17,39215.915 - 22
USSR Cruiser Krasni Krym 28 (of 15) × 5.1" 55 cal 648 lb (0.294 t)20,69019.26
Norway Coast defense ship Harald Haarfagre 42 × 8.2"626 lb (0.284 t)
Netherlands Cruiser Tromp 26 × 5.9" 50 cal618 lb (0.280 t)23,20021.2
Germany Cruiser Emden 18 × 150 mm (5.9 in) 45 cal 600 lb (0.27 t)18,37016.8
Japan Agano-class cruiser 46 × 150 mm (5.9 in) 50 cal 600 lb (0.27 t)22,97021.08
UK Danae-class cruiser 86 × BL 6-inch Mk XII 600 lb (0.27 t)21,50019.65-7
Italy Capitani Romani-class cruiser 38 × 5.3" 45 cal M1938 577 lb (0.262 t)21,43519.66
Japan Cruiser Yūbari 16 × 5.5" 50 cal500 lb (0.23 t)19,14017.58
Japan Sendai-class cruiser 36 × 5.5" 50 cal500 lb (0.23 t)19,14017.58
Japan Nagara-class cruiser 66 × 5.5" 50 cal500 lb (0.23 t)19,14017.58
Japan Kuma-class cruiser 56 × 5.5" 50 cal500 lb (0.23 t)19,14017.58
Japan Seaplane carrier Nisshin 16 × 5.5" 50 cal500 lb (0.23 t)19,14017.58
UK C-class cruiser 45 × BL 6-inch Mk XII500 lb (0.23 t)21,50019.65-7