This series on battleships originally began on the Navy General Board Facebook page. It got to be so popular that we combined all of the posts into one article on battleship evolution. In this article we will see how each Navy’s first dreadnought differed compared to their last.
Royal Navy Battleship Evolution : HMS Dreadnought – HMS Vanguard
HMS Dreadnought and HMS Vanguard. The United Kingdom’s first and last dreadnoughts.
HMS Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought entered service on December 2, 1906.
160.6m (527′) in length with a 25m (82′) beam.
Deep load displacement of 20,730 long tons.
23,000shp could push her to 21 knots.
Range was 6,620 nmi at 10 knots.
Her armament consisted of:
– 10x 300mm (12″) guns in five twin turrets.
– 27x 12 pdr guns
– 5x 460mm (18″) torpedoes.
Main gun range: 20,435 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (8x 12″): 6800lbs
Armor:
Belt – 279mm (11″) Maximum
Deck – 76mm (3″) Maximum
Conning Tower – 279mm (11″)
Turrets – Up to 305mm (12″)
HMS Vanguard
HMS Vanguard entered service on May 12, 1946.
248.2m (814′) in length with a 32.9m (108′) beam.
Deep load displacement of 51,420 long tons.
130,000shp could push her to 30 knots.
Range was 8,250 nmi at 15 knots.
Her armament consisted of:
– 8x 381mm (15″) guns in four twin turrets.
– 16x 133mm (5.25″) guns in eight twin turrets.
– 73x 40mm Bofors AA guns.
Main gun range: 30,550 yards.
Main gun broadside (8x 15″): 15,504lbs
Armor:
Belt – 356mm (14″) Maximum
Deck – 152mm (6″) Maximum
Conning Tower – 76mm (3″)
Turrets – Up to 330mm (13″)
HMS Dreadnought vs. HMS Vanguard
So what did 4 decades of technological advancement do to battleships of the Royal Navy?
Compared to Dreadnought, Vanguard was:
54% longer and 31% wider.
A displacement 148% greater.
42% faster with 24% better range.
A powerplant 465% more powerful.
27% thicker belt armor and 100% thicker deck armor.
Dreadnought had 25% more main gun barrels, but Vanguard’s main guns were 25% larger.
Despite each battleship bringing eight main guns to a broadside, Vanguard had a broadside weight 128% greater than Dreadnought and could throw it 50% further.
German Battleship Evolution : SMS Nassau – Tirpitz
SMS Nassau and Tirpitz. Germany’s first and last dreadnoughts.
SMS Nassau
SMS Nassau entered service on October 1, 1909.
146.1m (479′ 4″) in length with a beam of 26.9m (88’3″).
Full load displacement was 21,000 long tons.
21,699ihp to push her to 20 knots.
Range was 8300nmi at 12 knots.
Her armament consisted of: – – 12x 28cm (11″) guns in six twin turrets.
– 12x 15cm (5.9″) guns.
– 16x 8.8cm (3.5″) guns.
– 6x 45cm (18″) torpedo tubes.
Main gun range: 22,400 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (8x 28cm): 5,328lbs.
Armor:
Belt – 270mm (10.6″) Maximum
Deck – 80mm (3.1″) Maximum
Conning Tower – 400mm (16″)
Turrets – Up to 280mm (11″)
Tirpitz
Tirpitz entered service on February 25, 1941.
251m (823’6″) in length with a beam of 36m (118’1″).
Full load displacement of 51,800 long tons.
160,796shp could push her to 30 knots.
Range was 8,870nmi at 19 knots.
Her armament consisted of: – – 8x 38cm (15″) guns in four twin turrets.
– 12x 15cm (5.9″) guns in six twin turrets.
– 16x 10.5cm (4.1″) heavy anti-aircraft guns.
– 16x 3.7cm (1.5″) anti-aircraft guns.
– 12x 2cm anti-aircraft guns.
Main gun range: 39,940 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (8x 38cm): 14,400lbs.
Armor:
Belt – 320mm (12.6″) Maximum (Backed by 120mm Deck)
Deck – 100mm (3.9″) Maximum (120mm on sloped section)
Conning Tower – 350mm (14″)
Turrets – Up to 360mm (14″)
SMS Nassau vs. Tirpitz
So how did Tirpitz compare to Nassau after 32 years of battleship evolution?
72% longer and 33.8% wider.
A full load displacement 146% greater.
Tirpitz was 50% faster and had a range 7% greater.
Tirpitz had a powerplant 641% more powerful.
Belt armor was 18.5% thicker and deck armor was 25% thicker.
Tirpitz had 33% less main gun barrels but possessed guns 36.3% larger than Nassau.
The main guns of Tirpitz had a broadside weight 170% heavier and could throw their shells 78% further.
United States Battleship Evolution : USS Michigan – USS Missouri
USS Michigan (BB-27) and USS Missouri (BB-63), the United State’s first and last dreadnoughts.
USS Michigan
USS Michigan (BB-27) entered service on January 4, 1910.
452′ 9″ (138m) in length with a 80′ 3″ (24m) beam.
Full load displacement of 17,617 long tons.
16,500shp could push her to 18.5 knots.
Range was 6,950 nmi at 10 knots.
Her armament consisted of:
– 8x 12″ (305mm) guns in four twin turrets.
– 22x 3″ (76mm) guns.
– 2x 47mm guns.
– 8x 37mm guns.
– 2x 21″ torpedo tubes.
Main gun range: 20,000 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (8x 12″): 6960lbs
Armor:
Belt – 12″ (303mm) Maximum
Deck – 2.5″ (64mm) Maximum
Conning Tower – 12″ (305mm)
Turrets – Up to 12″ (305mm)
USS Missouri
USS Missouri (BB-63) entered service on June 11, 1944.
887′ 3″ (270.4m) in length with a 108′ 2″ (32.97m) beam.
Full load displacement of 57,500 long tons.
212,000shp could push her to over 32.5 knots.
Range was 15,900 nmi at 17 knots.
Missouri’s armament consisted of:
– 9x 16″ (406mm) guns in three three-gun turrets.
– 20x 5″ (127mm) dual-purpose guns in ten twin turrets.
– 80x 40mm Bofors anti-air guns.
– 49x 20mm Oerlikon anti-air guns.
Main gun range: 41,622 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (9x 16″): 24,300lbs.
Armor:
Belt – 12.1″ (307mm) Maximum
Deck – 7.5″ (190.5mm) Maximum (Total of three decks)
Conning Tower – 17.3″ (439mm)
Turrets – Up to 19.5″ (495mm)
USS Michigan vs. USS Missouri
So how did USS Missouri differ from USS Michigan after 34 years of battleship evolution?
Compared to USS Michigan, the USS Missouri was:
96% longer and 35% wider.
Full load displacement was 226% greater.
76% faster with 128% better range.
A powerplant 1184% more powerful.
.83% Thicker belt armor and 200% thicker deck armor.
USS Missouri had 12.5% more main gun barrels as well as guns that were 33% larger.
Compared to Michigan, Missouri’s main guns had a broadside throw weight 250% greater and could throw their shells 108% further.
Japanese Battleship Evolution : Settsu – Musashi
Settsu and Musashi, the Imperial Japanese Navy’s first and last dreadnoughts.
Settsu
Settsu entered service on March 30, 1911.
162.5m (533′) in length with a 27.7m (84’2″) beam.
Displacement was 21,443 long tons.
25,000shp could drive her to 21 knots.
Range was 2,700nmi at 18 knots.
162.5m (533′) in length with a 27.7m (84’2″) beam.
Displacement was 21,443 long tons.
25,000shp could drive her to 21 knots.
Range was 2,700nmi at 18 knots.
Her Armament consisted of:
– 4x 30.5 cm (12″) guns (L/50) in two twin turrets.
– 8x 30.5 cm (12″) guns (L/45) in four twin turrets.
– 10x 15cm (6″) guns.
– 8x 120mm (4.7″) guns.
– 12x 76mm (3″) guns.
– 5x 457mm (18″) torpedoes
Main gun range: 18,850 yards (L/45) to 21,190 yards (L/50)
Main gun broadside weight (8x 12″): 6800lbs
Armor:
Belt – 305mm (12″) Maximum
Deck – 30mm (1.2″) Maximum
Conning Tower – 254mm (10″)
Turrets – Up to 279mm (11″)
Musashi
Musashi entered service on August 5, 1942.
263m (862′ 10″) in length with a 36.9m (121′ 1″) beam.
Full load displacement of 71,659 long tons.
154,470shp drove her to speeds of 27.6 knots.
Range was 7,200nmi at 16 knots.
Musashi’s armament consisted of:
– 9x 46cm (18.1″) guns in three triple turrets.
– 12x 15.5cm (6.1″) guns in four triple turrets.
– 12x 12.7cm (5″) guns in six twin mounts.
– 36x 25mm (.98″) anti-air guns in twelve triple mounts.
– 4x 13.2mm guns anti-air guns in two twin mounts.
Main gun range: 45,931 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (9x 18.1″): 28,968lbs.
Armor:
Belt – 400mm (15.7″) Maximum
Deck – 230mm (9.1″) Maximum
Conning Tower – 500mm (19.7″)
Turrets – Up to 650mm (25.6″)
Settsu vs. Musashi
So how did Musashi compare to Settsu after 31 years of Japanese battleship evolution?
Compared to Settsu, Musashi was:
62% longer and 33.2% wider.
Displacement was 234% greater.
31.4% faster with 166% greater range.
A powerplant with 515% more power.
An armoured belt 31% thicker with a 666% thicker deck.
Musashi had 25% less main gun barrels but guns 50.8% larger than Settsu.
Musashi’s main guns had a broadside weight 326% greater then Settsu’s and could throw her shells 116.7% further.
Italian Battleship Evolution : Dante Alighieri – Roma
Dante Alighieri and Roma, the first and last dreadnoughts of the Italian Navy.
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri, the sole ship of her class, entered service on January 15, 1913.
168.1m (551’6″) in length with a beam of 26.6m (87’3″).
Full load displacement was 21,600 long tons.
32,190shp could push her to 22 knots.
Range was 4800nmi at 10 knots.
Her armament consisted of: – – – 12x 305mm (12″) guns in four triple turrets.
– 20x 120mm (4.7″) guns.
– 13x 76.2mm (3″) guns.
– 3x 450mm (17.7″) torpedo tubes.
Main gun range: 26,246 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (12x 305mm): 11,052lbs.
Armor:
Belt – 254mm (10″) Maximum
Deck – 38mm (1.5″) Maximum
Conning Tower – 305mm (12″)
Turrets – Up to 254mm (10″)
Roma
Roma entered service June 14, 1942.
240.7m (790′) in length with a beam of 32.9m (109′).
Full load displacement of 45,485 long tons.
128,000shp could push her to 30 knots.
Range was 4,580nmi at 16 knots.
Her Armament consisted of: – – 9x 381mm (15″) guns in three triple turrets.
– 12x 152mm (6″) guns secondary guns.
– 12x 90mm (3.5″) anti-aircraft guns.
– 20x 37mm (1.5″) anti-aircraft guns.
– 32x 20mm anti-aircraft guns.
**4x 4.7″ guns for star shells**
Main gun range: 46,806 yards,
Main gun broadside weight (8x 305mm): 17,550lbs
Armor:
Belt – 350mm (14″) Maximum (Two layers of armor)
Deck – 1500mm (5.9″) Maximum
Conning Tower – 255mm (10″)
Turrets – Up to 380mm (15″)
Dante Alighieri vs. Roma
So how did Roma compare to Dante Alighieri after 29 years of battleship evolution?
43% longer and 23.6% wider.
A full load displacement 110.5% greater.
Roma was 36% faster though Dante Alighieri had a range 4% greater.
Roma had a powerplant 297% more powerful.
Roma had side armor 40% thicker and a deck 293% thicker.
Roma had 33% less main gun barrels but her guns were 25% larger.
The main guns of Roma had a broadside weight 58% heavier and could throw their shells 78% further.
French Battleship Evolution : Courbet – Jean Bart
Courbet and Jean Bart, the first and last dreadnoughts of the French Navy.
Courbet
Courbet (Courbet Class) entered service on November 19, 1913.
166m (544′ 7″) in length with a beam of 27m (88′ 7″).
Full load displacement of 25,175 long tons.
27,617shp could push her to 21 knots.
Range was 4,200nmi at 10 knots.
Her armament consisted of:
– 12x 305mm (12″) guns in six twin turrets.
– 22x 138mm (5.4″) guns.
– 4x 47mm (1.9″) guns.
– 4x 450mm (17.7″) torpedo tubes.
Main gun range: 15,900 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (10x 305mm): 9700lbs.
Armor:
Belt – 250mm (9.8″) Maximum
Deck – 70mm (2.8″) Maximum
Conning Tower – 266mm (10.5″)
Turrets – Up to 360mm (14.2″)
Jean Bart
Jean Bart (Richelieu Class) entered active service on May 1, 1955.
248m (814′) in length with a beam of 35.5m (116′).
Full load displacement of 48,180 long tons.
150,000shp could push her to 32 knots.
Range was 7671nmi at 20 knots.
Her armament consisted of:
– 8x 380mm (15″) guns in two quadruple turrets.
– 9x 155mm (6.1″) guns in three triple turrets.
– 24x 100mm (3.9″) guns in twelve twin turrets.
– 28x 57mm (2.2″) guns in fourteen twin turrets.
Main gun range 45,600 yards.
Main gun broadside weight (8x 305mm): 15,600lbs.
Armor:
Belt – 330mm (13″) Maximum
Deck – 210mm (8.3″) Maximum (Total of two decks)
Conning Tower – 340mm (13″)
Turrets – Up to 430mm (16.9″)
Courbet vs. Jean Bart
So how did Jean Bart differ from Courbet after forty-two years?
Compared to Courbet, Jean Bart was:
49% longer and 31.5% wider.
Full load displacement was 91% greater.
52% faster with 82.6% greater range at a cruising speed 100% higher.
A powerplant 443% more powerful.
32.6% thicker belt armor and 196% thicker deck armor.
Jean Bart had 33% less main gun barrels than Courbet, but had main guns that were 25% larger.
Compared to Courbet, Jean Bart’s main guns had a broadside throw weight 61% greater and could throw their shells 187% further.
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