Nazi Germany's Battleship Bismarck vs. America's Iowa Class: Who Wins?

National Interest ^ | July 28, 2016 | Kyle Mizokami

[C19fan]

Despite the vast scope of the Second World War, the navies of the United States and Nazi Germany fought few, if any, direct surface engagements. By the time of America’s entry into the war the Royal Navy had already sunk or neutralized the lion’s share of Hitler’s Kriegsmarine, with only Hitler’s U-boats remaining a substantial German threat.

[laplata]

You’re right, the intimidation factor alone would be awesome.

I’d love to tour a battleship.

[DarthVader]

The USS Iowa is on the West Coast.

[laplata]

It would be closest to me here in Colo. Are you on the West Coast?

[JimRed]

Looked into my 3100 song library and theres Johnny Horton. Listening to it now. :<)))

Or the parody:

We didn't sink the Bismarck and we didn't fight at all
We spent the war in Norfolk and we really had a ball,
Chasin' after women while our ship was overhauled,
Livin' it upon grapefruit juice and sick bay alcohol!

[GingisK]

I wish I still had some of that old junk, especially my coon skin cap with the tail.

[DarthVader]

The east. There are many here: Wisconsin, New Jersey, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Alabama.

[xone]

Johnny Horton sang it all: “and when the smoke had cleared away, the mighty Hood was gone.’

[MistrX]

Could Bruce Lee have kicked Ali’s butt?

[central_va]

Bismark Fire control radar.

The fire of the main and secondary batteries was directed from the command posts, which were located forward, astern, and above the foretop platform. Each of these three posts mounted a rotating dome with an optical rangefinder and a FuMO 23 radar instrument. The command posts were connected by armoured communication shafts to the computation rooms under the armour deck forward (section XV) and aft (section VII). The FuMO 23 antennae had a rectangular shape and measured approximately 2 m. high and 4 m. wide. They had a frequency of 368 MHz, and operated on an 81.5 cm wavelength with a power-output of 9 kW at 500 kHz. The maximum effective range of this device was about 25,000 m. However, the German FuMOs were not equipped with the PPI (Plan Position Indicator) display system that is so familiar in today’s radars, but a simple A-scope display instead. Therefore, they could hardly detect more than one target at the same time, and bearings were not very accurate either. The lack of PPI was one of the reasons German capital ships were so redundant and equipped with three sensors.

The foretop command post, under the command of the First Artillery Officer (I.A.O.), was above the foremast, at about 31 meters above sea level. It was equipped with a 10.5 meter base range finder (Basisgerät BG), and had a visual field of 360º. The forward command post was attached to the forward conning tower, and had a 7-meter base rangefinder, however, due to the superstructure, its visual field was smaller. The after command post had a 10.5-meter base rangefinder of similar characteristics as the one in the foretop.

Each of the four main battery turrets ("Anton", "Bruno", "Cäsar" and "Dora") was equipped with a 10.5-meter base rangefinder too, and in case all three command posts were put out of action in battle, the turrets could then proceed individually to local fire.1 However, the chances of scoring a hit with each battery firing on its own were less than under a centralized command. The central turrets of the secondary battery had also their own 6.5-meter base rangefinder.

The anti-aircraft fire was directed by four command posts, each equipped with a 4-meter rangefinder. Two of these command posts, covered by spherical cupolas (Wackeltopf), were on either side of the foremast, and the other two uncovered posts amidships aft.

[ro_dreaming]

The USS Texas, WWI and WWII battleship, is still afloat down here in Deer Park, TX (just outside of Houston).

There are tours, and even on occasion sleep overs.

[henkster]

The guys at Combined Fleet have a really good site. I’ve also read an analysis of Iowa vs. Yamato, where they gave the edge to Iowa because of stability of the ship (”seakeeping”), rate of fire and fire control. No question in my mind that the Iowas were the best battleships ever built. None were ever sunk, which you can’t say about Yamato, Bismarck, KGV or Vittorio Venetto classes.

[laplata]

Thanks. I’m in Colo. and far away from a coast, but will try to visit one of those one day.

[laplata]

It’s really a good thing that so many of the WW II battleships have been saved.

Have you seen any?

[DarthVader]

The Wisconsin

[ro_dreaming]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Texas_(BB-35)
http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/battleship-texas

Really great old ship.. over 100 years old, and still afloat. (Needs a LOT of work, though)

[laplata]

That’s really neat. I’m itching to see one now.

[laplata]

Thank you!

[GreenLanternCorps]

Here is a pair of them. (1/2400 GHQ miniatures)

[GreenLanternCorps]

Avalon Hill is awesome, but I'm partial to miniatures...

[alfa6]

The photo of the 26” armor was the turret face armor on the Yamato class BB

Regards

alfa6 :>}