WesWorld

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Originally posted by Red Admiral
Italy is alone in sticking with 381mm guns, but with more of them instead...

France is using 15" too, and not sizing up.

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France is using 15" too, and not sizing up.

They're only building those weird multi-calibre monstrosities though.

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Unless that compartment happens to be your charge magazine..

Magazine penetration is basically impossible with WWII armourschemes. The shell can get through the armour, but it usually won't be able to get to the magazine spaces. In Littorio for example you've got plenty of internal armour, so even if the shell penetrates the belt, it goes bang and there are plates to stop any splinters from reaching the magazines. The shell itself won't get there because it will have already exploded (adopt a longer delay and you simply punch holes in metal when you're not hitting armour).

More guns means more chances of getting in a lucky shot. I still like the Lepanto design. Putting twice as many shells in the air is going to have a significant effect.

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Also I'm still biased against quad turrets, especially for 15in guns. Sounds like asking for trouble like PoW and KGV. When you need them most they could fail. Rather go for the tried and tested triple myself.

History doesn't really bear that out. You just need time to work out the bugs with quadruple turrets, similar to needed time to work out the bugs with triple turrets when previously using twins. The problems with the KGVs are massively exaggerated - output was pretty similar to contemporary ships.

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Originally posted by Red Admiral

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France is using 15" too, and not sizing up.

They're only building those weird multi-calibre monstrosities though.

You're thinking of the battlecruisers, not battleships. The Liberte-class, France-class and Richelieu-class all have all-big-gun batteries.

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Originally posted by Brockpaine
You're thinking of the battlecruisers, not battleships. The Liberte-class, France-class and Richelieu-class all have all-big-gun batteries.

Hmm, I don't remember seeing the Liberte Class ships beforehand. They're pretty big for not that much ship. Very similar to the historical Richelieu and Jean Bart but a lot heavier. I'm not sure how the heavy shell/low velocity will do in practice.

But the armour protection....*sweats*. Not much can get through two layers of 15'' belt.

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Originally posted by TexanCowboy
But the armour protection....*sweats*. Not much can get through two layers of 15'' belt.

If the Italians are using the historical Model 1934 15" gun, then a 885kg shell from those guns can penetrate a 38cm belt at 30,000 yards.

No....it's two layers of 15'' belt. So 30'' belt total.

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Originally posted by TexanCowboy
No....it's two layers of 15'' belt. So 30'' belt total.

Hmmm, 60+300 = 360mm or 14.17".

is that you have to be at a 90 deg angle to the target's belt, give or take 5-10 deg.

Optimizing for deck penetration means the shooter can be in many more places relative to the target. High velocity 380mm guns will have a tough time getting through 15cm+ decks at reasonable ranges.

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Optimizing for deck penetration means the shooter can be in many more places relative to the target. High velocity 380mm guns will have a tough time getting through 15cm+ decks at reasonable ranges.

So will any other gun. Best for deck penetration was the US 16"/45, which doesn't manage to penetrate 6" armour within 30,000yds. Low velocity gives a poorer chance of hitting and a poorer chance of penetrating.

The middle of road choice as taken by the RN was probably the best overall, the 16"/45 Mk II being one of, if not the, best battleship guns ever.