This list of broadsides of major World War II ships ranks the total weight of projectiles that can be delivered in single
broadside
Broadside or broadsides may refer to:
Naval
* Broadside (naval), terminology for the side of a ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship, or their near simultaneous fire on naval warfare
Printing and literature
* Broadside (comic ...
s by major vessels in service during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. Listed are the broadsides in
pounds and kilograms (for a single main battery
salvo
A salvo is the simultaneous discharge of artillery or firearms including the firing of guns either to hit a target or to perform a salute. As a tactic in warfare, the intent is to cripple an enemy in one blow and prevent them from fighting b ...
), as well as the
range
Range may refer to:
Geography
* Range (geographic), a chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra)
** Mountain range, a group of mountains bordered by lowlands
* Range, a term used to i ...
to which it can be fired in yards and kilometres and the maximum
rate of fire
Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. This can be influenced by several factors, including operator training level, mechanical limitations, ammunition availability, and weapon condition. In m ...
in salvos per minute.
Items are listed in order of broadside weight.
{, class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
, -
! style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2", Country
! style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2", Vessel
! style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2", No.
built
! style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2", Main gun:
number and caliber
! style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2",
! style="background:#efefef;" colspan="2", Maximum range
! style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2", Maximum
rate of fire
(/min)
, -
! (yd)
! (km)
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 9 ×
45 cal Type 94
,
, 45,960
, 42.0
, 2
, -
, USA
,
, 4
, 9 ×
16" 50 cal Mark 7
,
, 42,345
, 38.7
, 2
, -
, USA
,
, 2
, 9 ×
16" 45 cal Mark 6
,
, 36,900
, 33.7
, 2
, -
, USA
,
''South Dakota''-class battleship
, 4
, 9 × 16" 45 cal Mark 6
,
, 36,900
, 33.7
, 2
, -
, UK
,
, 2
, 9 ×
BL 16-inch Mk I
,
, 39,780
, 36.4
, 1.5
, -
, USA
,
, 2
, 12 ×
14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11
,
, 36,300
, 33.2
, 2
, -
, USA
,
, 3
, 12 × 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11
,
, 36,300
, 33.2
, 2
, -
, USA
,
, 2
, 12 ×
14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12
,
, 36,000
, 33.0
, 2
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 8 ×
16" 45 cal 3rd Year Type
,
, 42,000
, 38.4
, 2
, -
, USA
,
, 3
, 8 ×
16" 45 cal Mark 5
,
, 35,000
, 32.0
, 2
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 12 ×
14" 45 cal 41st Year Type
,
, 38,770
, 35.5
, 2
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 12 × 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type
,
, 38,770
, 35.5
, 2
, -
, Italy
,
, 3
, 9 ×
15" 50 cal Ansaldo 1934
,
, 46,216
, 42.3
, 1.3
, -
, UK
,
''King George V''-class battleship
, 5
, 10 ×
BL 14-inch Mk VII
,
, 38,560
, 35.3
, 2
, -
, Chile
,
Battleship ''Almirante Latorre''
, 1
, 10 ×
EOC 14 inch/45 naval gun
,
, 24,400
, 22.31
, 2
, -
, France
,
, 2
, 8 ×
15" 45 cal Modèle 1935
,
, 45,600
, 41.7
, 2
, -
, UK
,
, 5
, 8 ×
BL 15-inch Mk I
,
, 33,550
, 30.7
, 2
, -
, UK
,
, 5
, 8 × BL 15-inch Mk I
,
, 33,550
, 30.7
, 2
, -
, UK
,
Battlecruiser HMS ''Hood''
, 1
, 8 × BL 15-inch Mk I
,
, 30,180
, 27.6
, 2
, -
, USA
,
, 2
, 10 × 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12
,
, 36,000
, 33.0
, 2
, -
, USA
,
, 2
, 10 × 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12
,
, 23,000
, 21.0
, 2
, -
, Germany
,
, 2
, 8 ×
15" 52 cal SK C/34
,
, 38,880
, 35.6
, 2.5
, -
, France
,
, 3
, 10 ×
13.4" 45 cal M1912
,
, 29,090
, 26.6
, 2
, -
, USSR
,
, 4
, 12 ×
12" 52 cal P1907
,
, 32,080
, 29.3
, 2-3
, -
, Japan
,
, 4
, 8 × 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type
,
, 38,770
, 35.5
, 2
, -
, UK
,
, 2
, 6 × BL 15-inch Mk I
,
, 33,550
, 30.7
, 2
, -
, Italy
,
, 2
, 10 ×
12.6" 44 cal M1936
,
, 31,280
, 28.6
, 2
, -
, Italy
,
, 2
, 10 ×
12.6" 44 cal M1934
,
, 31,280
, 28.6
, 2
, -
, France
,
, 2
, 12 ×
12" 45 cal M1910
,
, 25,150
, 23.0
, 2
, -
, Argentina
,
, 2
, 12 ×
12" 50 cal Bethlehem
,
, 24,000
, 22.0
, 2-3
, -
, USA
, Battleship
, 1
, 12 ×
12" 50 cal Mark 7
,
, 24,000
, 22.0
, 3
, -
, USA
,
, 2
, 9 ×
12" 50 cal Mark 8
,
, 38,573
, 35.3
, 3
, -
, France
,
, 2
, 8 ×
13" 50 cal M1931
,
, 45,600
, 41.7
, 2
, -
, Brazil
,
, 2
, 10 (of 12) ×
12" 45 cal EOC
,
, 18,850
, 17.2
, 3
, -
, Turkey
,
Battlecruiser ''Yavuz''
, 1
, 10 ×
11.1" 50 cal SK
,
, 23,730
, 21.7
, 3
, -
, Germany
,
, 2
, 9 ×
11.1" 54.5 cal SK C/34
,
, 44,760
, 40.9
, 3
, -
, Germany
,
, 3
, 6 ×
11.1" 52 cal SK C/28
,
, 39,890
, 36.5
, 2
, -
, UK
,
, 2
, 2 × BL 15-inch Mk I
,
, 32,500
, 29.7
, 2
, -
, UK
,
, 2
, 2 × BL 15-inch Mk I
,
, 32,500
, 29.7
, 2
, -
, USA
, 5 of 7 s
, 5
, 9 ×
8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15
,
, 30,050
, 27.5
, 4
, -
, USA
,
, 12
, 9 × 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15
,
, 30,050
, 27.5
, 4
, -
, Japan
,
, 4
, 10 × 8"
20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ2
,
, 32,150
, 29.4
, 4
, -
, Japan
,
, 4
, 10 × 8" 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ2
,
, 32,150
, 29.4
, 4
, -
, Japan
,
, 4
, 10 × 8" 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ2
,
, 32,150
, 29.4
, 4
, -
, USA
,
, 2
, 10 ×
8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14
,
, 31,860
, 29.1
, 4
, -
, Germany
,
Battleship ''Schlesien''
, 2
, 4 × 11.1"
28 cm SK L/40
,
, 28,040
, 25.6
, 2
, -
, France
,
, 7
, 8 × 8"
203mm/50 ''Modèle'' 1924
,
, 34,340
, 31.4
, 5
, -
, France
,
, 2
, 8 × 8"
155 mm ''Modèle'' 1920
,
, 34,340
, 31.4
, 5
, -
, USA
, 2 of 7 ''New Orleans''-class cruisers
, 2
, 9 × 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14
,
, 31,860
, 29.1
, 4
, -
, Greece
,
Cruiser ''Georgios Averof''
, 1
, 4 ×
9.2" 45 cal Mk X + 8 × 7.5"
''Cannone da'' 190/45
,
,
,
,
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 8 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2
,
, 32,150
, 29.4
, 4
, -
, Italy
,
, 4
, 8 × 8"
203 mm /53 Ansaldo M1927
,
, 34,520
, 31.6
, 4
, -
, Italy
,
Cruiser ''Bolzano''
, 1
, 8 × 8"
203 mm /53 Ansaldo M1929
,
, 34,520
, 31.6
, 4
, -
, Germany
,
, 4
, 8 × 8"
20.3 cm SK C/34
,
, 36,680
, 33.5
, 5
, -
, Italy
, s
, 2
, 8 × 8"
203 mm /50 Model 1924
,
, 30,620
, 28.0
, 1.5
, -
, UK
,
, 13
, 8 ×
BL 8-inch Mk VIII
,
, 30,650
, 28.0
, 5
, -
, Italy
, data-sort-value="San Giorgio" ,
Cruiser ''San Giorgio''
, 1
, 4 ×
10" 45 cal Model 1908
,
, 27,300
, 25.0
, 3
, -
, Finland
,
''Väinämöinen''-class coastal defense ship
, 2
, 4 × 10"
,
, 33,140
, 30.3
, 3
, -
, USA
,
, 7
, 15 ×
6" 47 cal Mark 16
,
, 26,118
, 23.9
, 8
, -
, USSR
,
, 6
, 9 × 7.1"
180mm/57 B-1-P Pattern 1932
,
, 41,000
, 37.5
, 6
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 6 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2
,
, 32,150
, 29.4
, 4
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 6 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2
,
, 32,150
, 29.4
, 4
, -
, USA
,
, 27
, 12 × 6" 47 cal Mark 16
,
, 26,118
, 23.9
, 8
, -
, UK
,
, 2
, 6 × BL 8-inch Mk VIII
,
, 30,650
, 27.9
, 5
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 1 ×
EOC BL 10-inch + 2 × 8"
20.3 cm/45 Type 41 + 4 × 6"
,
, 19,700
, 18.0
, 3
, -
, UK
,
Town-class cruiser
, 10
, 12 ×
BL 6-inch Mk XXIII
,
, 25,480
, 23.3
, 6
, -
, UK
,
, 11
, 12 × BL 6-inch Mk XXIII
,
, 25,400
, 23.2
, 6
, -
, Argentina
,
, 2
, 6 × 7.5" 52 cal
,
, 29,855
, 27.3
,
, -
, Denmark
,
Herluf Trolle-class coastal defence ship
, 1
, 2 × 9.4" + 4 × 5.9"
,
,
,
,
, -
, Italy
, ''Abruzzi'' subclass of s
, 2
, 10 × 6"
152 mm /55 M1934, M1936
,
, 28,150
, 25.7
, 4
, -
, France
,
, 10
, 9 ×
55 cal
,
, 28,952
, 26.5
, 8
, -
, Netherlands
,
, 2
, 10 × 5.9" 50 cal
,
, 23,200
, 21.2
,
, -
, Denmark
, data-sort-value="Niels Juel" ,
Coast defense ship ''Niels Juel''
, 1
, 10 × 5.9"
,
,
,
,
, -
, Argentina
,
''Independencia''-class coastal defense ship
, 2
, 2 × 9.4" 40 cal
,
,
,
,
, -
, France
,
, 3
, 8 × 50 cal
,
, 28,540
, 26.1
, 4
, -
, Japan
,
, 2
, 4 ×
45 cal
,
, 19,700
, 18.0
, 5
, -
, Japan
, data-sort-value="Yakumo" ,
Cruiser ''Yakumo'' (training duties only during WWII)
, 1
, 4 × 8" 45 cal
,
, 19,700
, 18.0
, 5
, -
, Japan
, data-sort-value="Azuma" ,
Cruiser ''Azuma'' (training duties only during WWII)
, 1
, 4 × 8" 45 cal
,
, 19,700
, 18.0
, 5
, -
, Argentina
, data-sort-value="La Argentina" ,
, 1
, 9 × 6" 50 cal
,
, 25,700
, 23.5
,
, -
, Germany
,
Königsberg-class cruiser
, 3
, 9 ×
C/25
,
, 28,100
, 25.7
, 8
, -
, Germany
,
, 2
, 9 × 5.9"
15 cm SK C/25
The 15 cm SK C/25SK - ''Schnelladekanone'' (quick loading cannon); ''C - Construktionsjahr'' (year of design) was a German medium-caliber naval gun used during the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often ab ...
,
, 28,100
, 25.7
, 8
, -
, Australia
, data-sort-value="Adelaide" , Light cruiser
HMAS ''Adelaide''
, 1
, 9 ×
6-inch Mk XII
,
, 21,500
, 19.6
, 5-7
, -
, UK
,
''Leander''-class cruiser
, 8
, 8 × 6-inch Mk XXIII
,
, 25,480
, 23.3
, 6
, -
, USSR
, data-sort-value="Krasny" ,
Cruiser ''Krasny Kavkaz''
, 1
, 4 × 7.1" 57 cal
,
, 41,000
, 37.5
, 6
, -
, USA
,
, 10
, 4 ×
6" 53 cal Mark 16& 3 ×
6" 53 cal Mark 13 (per side)
,
, 25,300
Mark 16
, 23.1
Mark 16
, 5
, -
, Italy
, 3 of 4 subclasses of s
, 10
, 8 × 6"
152 mm /53 M1926 or M1929
,
, 24,716
, 22.6
, 4 (M1926)
8 (M1929)
, -
, Japan
,
, 3
, 8 × 6" 45 cal
,
, 16,185
, 14.8
,
, -
, UK
,
, 11
, 10 ×
QF 5.25-inch Mk I
,
, 24,070
, 22.0
, 7
, -
, USA
, s (first group)
, 4
, 14 (of 16) ×
5" 38 cal Mark 12
,
, 17,392
, 15.9
, 15 - 22
, -
, Japan
, data-sort-value="Oyodo" ,
Cruiser ''Ōyodo''
, 1
, 6 × 6.1"
15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type
,
, 29,960
, 27.4
, 5
, -
, Netherlands
, data-sort-value="De Ruyter" ,
Cruiser ''De Ruyter''
, 1
, 7 × 5.9" 50 cal
,
, 23,200
, 21.2
,
, -
, Argentina
, data-sort-value="General" ,
Coast defense ship ''General Belgrano''
, 2
, 2 × 10" 35 cal
,
,
,
,
, -
, UK
,
, 2
, 7 ×
BL 6-inch Mark VII
,
, 18,750
, 17.1
, 5
, -
, UK
,
''Arethusa''-class cruiser
, 4
, 6 ×
BL 6-inch Mk XXIII
,
, 25,480
, 23.3
, 6
, -
, USA
, ''Oakland'' sub-class of s
, 4
, 12 × 5" 38 cal Mark 12
,
, 17,392
, 15.9
, 15 - 22
, -
, USSR
, data-sort-value="Krasni" ,
Cruiser ''Krasni Krym''
, 2
, 8 (of 15) ×
5.1" 55 cal
,
, 20,690
, 19.2
, 6
, -
, Norway
, data-sort-value="Harald" ,
Coast defense ship ''Harald Haarfagre''
, 4
, 2 × 8.2"
,
,
,
,
, -
, Netherlands
, data-sort-value="Tromp" ,
Cruiser ''Tromp''
, 2
, 6 × 5.9" 50 cal
,
, 23,200
, 21.2
,
, -
, Germany
, data-sort-value="Emden" ,
Cruiser ''Emden''
, 1
, 8 ×
45 cal
,
, 18,370
, 16.8
,
, -
, Japan
,
, 4
, 6 ×
50 cal
,
, 22,970
, 21.0
, 8
, -
, UK
,
, 8
, 6 ×
BL 6-inch Mk XII
,
, 21,500
, 19.6
, 5-7
, -
, Italy
,
, 3
, 8 ×
5.3" 45 cal M1938
,
, 21,435
, 19.6
, 6
, -
, Japan
, data-sort-value="Yubari" ,
Cruiser ''Yūbari''
, 1
, 6 × 5.5" 50 cal
,
, 19,140
, 17.5
, 8
, -
, Japan
,
, 3
, 6 × 5.5" 50 cal
,
, 19,140
, 17.5
, 8
, -
, Japan
,
, 6
, 6 × 5.5" 50 cal
,
, 19,140
, 17.5
, 8
, -
, Japan
,
, 5
, 6 × 5.5" 50 cal
,
, 19,140
, 17.5
, 8
, -
, Japan
, data-sort-value="Nisshin" ,
Seaplane carrier ''Nisshin''
, 1
, 6 × 5.5" 50 cal
,
, 19,140
, 17.5
, 8
, -
, UK
,
, 4
, 5 × BL 6-inch Mk XII
, {{convert, 500, lb, t, abbr=on
, 21,500
, 19.6
, 5-7
, -
Broadsides
Broadsides