How did ww2 battleships aim guns?

USN Battleships had the most sophisticated analog-mechanical computers to aim their guns. They took in the following information and used it to compute a firing solution: Distance and bearing to the target (input from manual observations or radar. Propellant load (1–6 bags)

What was the most feared battleship in ww2?

The Bismarck was the most feared battleship in the German Kriegsmarine (War Navy) and, at over 250 metres in length, the biggest. Yet, despite its presence, it would sink only one ship in its only battle. So what exactly made the Bismarck so famous?

Can a battleship capsize?

A battleship will not capsize but will move about six feet sideways due to the recoil of her guns – the water acts like a buffer.

How fast could a ww2 battleship go?

Though the ships were large, exceeding 430′ (132m) in length, they carried a correspondingly large powerplant. The destroyers could produce up to 81,000shp, enough to propel the ships to speeds of 45 knots.

How far could a ww2 battleship fire?

They fired 2,700 pounds (1,225 kg) armor-piercing projectiles at a muzzle velocity of 2,500 ft/s (762 m/s), or 1,900 pounds (862 kg) high-capacity projectiles at 2,690 ft/s (820 m/s), up to 24 miles (21 nmi; 39 km).

What battleship had the largest guns?

Yamato
The largest calibre guns ever mounted on a ship were the nine 45.7 cm (18 inch) guns installed on the Japanese battleships Yamato and Musashi. The shells weighed 1,452 kg (3,200 lb) and could be fired 43.5 km (27 miles). Yamato and Musashi were the largest battleships ever to sail.

What battleships were attacked by aircraft carriers in WW2?

Operations 1 Taranto and Matapan. In late 1940 and 1941, a range of engagements saw battleships attacked by carrier aircraft. 2 Scharnhorst class. 3 Bismarck. 4 The Pacific battles. 5 Soviet and Finnish battles.

What kind of guns were used in WW2 battleships?

At the outbreak of World War II, most battleships had large anti-aircraft batteries. The battleships used the same light AA guns (the Allies used autocannons such as the Bofors 40 mm gun and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon) as those on smaller ships, but in greater number.

How thick was the upper armored belt on World War II battleships?

World War I battleship, German and Italian World War II battleships had lighter upper armored belts to protect sides up to the main or weather deck. Main belt thickness along the waterline ranged from 10″ to 15″, upper belt thickness ranged from 4″ to 10″. Most ships of the World War II period had a sloped main belt (internal in some classes),…

What was the largest battleship in World History?

The Imperial Japanese Navy ‘s Yamato (8 August 1940), seen in 1941, and her sister ship Musashi (1 November 1940) were the largest battleships in history. By contrast, the Imperial Japanese Navy had the advantage of a dozen operational battleships early in the war, but chose not to deploy them in any significant engagements.