The largest explosive shells

[Saxondog]

One thing that has always been of interest to me about warships were their heavy guns,the Hood's 15' 360mm guns fired a 1920lbs.shell for a distance of 37956.Meters at a speed of 750 meters per second. Simply amazing.

The Japanese Super Dreadnought I.J.M.S.Yamato mounting 18" 460mm main guns fired a shell weighing 3260lbs. at a distance of 42.0klm.with a penetration of 600mm armor plating. completely trough a King Tiger front to back.

The ability of these guns to fire such a great distance and hit a moving target at best 110ft wide and 800ft long is another very interesting accomplishment.

It may be of interest as well that the record is held by the H.M.S.Warspite against an Italian battleship,27000 yards and the target was moving at 30+ knots. Imagine a 15"shell weighing almost a ton travelling that great distance and hitting a ship barely 107ft wide.

[daemond6]

Yeah, I was reading the long post you did on the Hood, and noticed the size of those shells - they must have been able to do some damage, lol.

Daemon

[Saxondog]

The accuracy and destructive power was a major factor in the D-Day invasion. And partially responsible for the Germans Armor deployment.

I am researching the effects on the Germans,and the destruction of any armor units by Naval gunfire,the Battleships major roles in the war were the naval bombardments.

Imagine a ton of explosives hitting a tank?

[daemond6]

well,it wouldnt be a ton of explosives, it would be a steel shell, filled with explosives...

but at 15", its kinda a moot point - like you said, it would be "bye bye tank" either way.

[FreakyDude]

The Yamato had certainly the largest Naval guns and although it never happened I have often wondered what would have happened if it ran in the New Jersey or Missouri or even any of the British ships in theater. That would have been a fight that would have lit up the sky for sure.
I believe the Prince Of Wales was around earlier in the war before the Japanese caught them sleeping and sunk it.
Unfortunate about the Hood but design flaws never show themselves on Battleships till it is too late.

Dora and Gustav with rounds of 800mm were the largest shells fired in WWII I believe, see the pic here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:80_cm ... o_T-34.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The shell was taller than a T-34 lol Totally ridiculous in size, weight and power. No bigger gun as far as I am aware has ever been used in combat.

[Saxondog]

The shell size of Dora was the largest I agree,as for the Iowa class Battleships or really any of our fast battleship fleet meeting Yamato or Mushashi the radar gun system verse the Japanese system of Radar as a supplemental system would have been the deciding factor. Our ships had the chance,but it was decided to allow air power to kill Yamato.

Then speed may of been another factor,28knots verse 33knots.It is an interesting situation. The last battleship action was the American Dreadnoughts though,the old battleships. Also present at this action was Macarthur.

My interest in Dreadnoughts and their history has been a life long curiosity. Visiting all the Museums with exception of the four new ones of the Iowa class,and the Pearl Harbour veterans Arizona and Utah. It has always been odd to me that Britain being so Naval Minded for centuries would not have a single Dreadnought,or Super Dreadnought preserved? Certainly a sad thing,and the innovations lost to history.

At least we have the U.S.S.Texas left,one at least for the world to enjoy. Oddly the Texas is also a part of a another lost era,our War with Mexico and a Tyrant Named Santa Anna.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16%22/50_c ... eavy_shell" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; read here about the 2700lbs shells for the US 16/50 NAVAL GUNS,

200px-Iowa_16_inch_Gun-EN_svg.png (25.38 KiB) Viewed 1961 times

300px-BB61_USS_Iowa_BB61_broadside_USN.jpg (39.34 KiB) Viewed 1961 times

[daemond6]

Check out rcnavalcombat.com great bunch of guys

[FreakyDude]

Long Live The Battleship. Carrier air-power stole the crown but I don't think the offensive power of a Battleship should be in the same class.I took a tour of a Carrier in San Diego once and saw a Battleship tied up once. The Battleship is more impressive for sure.

[Saxondog]

Here is a link for the All big gun ship museums available world wide,here in the USA we have a fleet due to the recent retirement of the Iowa Class fast battleships(4) being kept a museum ships. In the UK their are some fine ships,unfortunately no battleships. This is so depressing as some much of naval History begins with the Royal Navy.

http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/gun_ship.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Battleships


http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/gun_ship.htm#cru" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Cruisers


I will check out the RCNAVALCOMBAT.COM SITE when these ship were first becoming popular I regret not buying the USS Tennessee kit.

[Saxondog]

Dora Video,pretty cool stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=uplMgB3tnXE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;