Top 5 Largest Ww2 Battleship Guns

The battleships of World War II were floating fortresses, equipped with some of the largest and most powerful guns in history. These guns were the primary armament of the battleships, and were used to engage enemy ships, fortifications, and even land-based targets. Here are the top 5 largest WW2 battleship guns:

1. Yamato-Class 460mm (18.1in) Guns

The Yamato-class battleships of the Imperial Japanese Navy were the largest battleships ever built, and were equipped with the largest guns ever mounted on a warship. The 460mm (18.1in) guns of the Yamato-class were capable of firing a 3,000-pound (1,361kg) shell over 26 miles (42km). These guns were so large that they had to be mounted in triple turrets, and were capable of firing a broadside of over 13,000 pounds (5,897kg) of explosives.

Specifications:

• Caliber: 460mm (18.1in)
• Barrel length: 21.13 meters (69ft 4in)
• Muzzle velocity: 790 meters per second (2,592ft/s)
• Range: 42 kilometers (26 miles)
• Shell weight: 1,361 kilograms (3,000 pounds)

2. Iowa-Class 406mm (16in) Guns

The Iowa-class battleships of the United States Navy were among the most advanced battleships of their time, and were equipped with powerful 406mm (16in) guns. These guns were capable of firing a 2,700-pound (1,225kg) shell over 23 miles (37km), and were mounted in triple turrets.

Specifications:

• Caliber: 406mm (16in)
• Barrel length: 19.13 meters (62ft 9in)
• Muzzle velocity: 820 meters per second (2,690ft/s)
• Range: 37 kilometers (23 miles)
• Shell weight: 1,225 kilograms (2,700 pounds)

3. Bismarck-Class 380mm (15in) Guns

The Bismarck-class battleships of the German Kriegsmarine were among the most powerful battleships of their time, and were equipped with 380mm (15in) guns. These guns were capable of firing a 1,000-pound (454kg) shell over 21 miles (34km), and were mounted in twin turrets.

Specifications:

• Caliber: 380mm (15in)
• Barrel length: 16.65 meters (54ft 8in)
• Muzzle velocity: 820 meters per second (2,690ft/s)
• Range: 34 kilometers (21 miles)
• Shell weight: 454 kilograms (1,000 pounds)

4. King George V-Class 356mm (14in) Guns

The King George V-class battleships of the Royal Navy were among the most advanced battleships of their time, and were equipped with 356mm (14in) guns. These guns were capable of firing a 1,590-pound (722kg) shell over 20 miles (32km), and were mounted in quadruple turrets.

Specifications:

• Caliber: 356mm (14in)
• Barrel length: 14.94 meters (49ft 0in)
• Muzzle velocity: 770 meters per second (2,530ft/s)
• Range: 32 kilometers (20 miles)
• Shell weight: 722 kilograms (1,590 pounds)

5. Littorio-Class 320mm (12.6in) Guns

The Littorio-class battleships of the Italian Regia Marina were among the most advanced battleships of their time, and were equipped with 320mm (12.6in) guns. These guns were capable of firing a 1,260-pound (572kg) shell over 18 miles (29km), and were mounted in triple turrets.

Specifications:

• Caliber: 320mm (12.6in)
• Barrel length: 13.64 meters (44ft 9in)
• Muzzle velocity: 850 meters per second (2,790ft/s)
• Range: 29 kilometers (18 miles)
• Shell weight: 572 kilograms (1,260 pounds)

Largest WW2 Battleship Guns Image Gallery

What were the largest battleship guns of WW2?

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The largest battleship guns of WW2 were the 460mm (18.1in) guns of the Yamato-class battleships.

Which battleships had the most powerful guns?

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The Yamato-class battleships had the most powerful guns, with a caliber of 460mm (18.1in).

How many battleships had guns larger than 380mm?

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Only a few battleships had guns larger than 380mm, including the Yamato-class and Iowa-class battleships.

We hope this article has provided you with a comprehensive overview of the largest WW2 battleship guns. These guns were truly massive, and played a significant role in the naval warfare of World War II.