List of broadsides of major World War II ships

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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. 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 fightin ...

), as well as the range 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 The ''Herluf Trolle'' class was a class of coastal defence ships of the Royal Danish Navy. The class comprised , and . Design Dimensions and machinery The ships of the class were long, had a beam of , a draught of , and had a displacement ...

, 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 , , 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