Were battleships actualy usefull in WW 2 ?

[RF]

They certainly were useful - and not just in the Pacific but in the European theatre as well.

However it should be recognised that shore bombardment effectiveness can be limited in destruction effectiveness to those targets not located inside huge concrete bunkers and deep underground. Very similar to the experience of ground artillery in the First World War.
Shore bombardment was also more effective against attacking forces rather than defenders - for example the record of the KM ships (which were not true battleships) in the Baltic coastline destruction of hundreds of Soviet tanks, at ranges of up to 15 miles inland.

[tommy303]

The good thing about battleship naval gunfire support was its ability to range quite far inland behind the beach defences as invading forces started to move inland. With the help of forward observers or observation aircraft, a battleship could break up a counter attacking force or disrupt the movement of enemy reinforcements before it could threaten the bridgehead.

[paul.mercer]

Gentlemen,
Am I correct in saying that during the first Gulf war one of the Iowas was used for bombarding Iraqi positions? I would have thought that 9 tons of shells arriving every few minutes would be rather frightening!

[tommy303]

Oh yes. Being under any kind of artillery fire is a daunting experience, let alone the really big stuff old-time navies could hurl at you.

[RF]

Gentlemen,
Am I correct in saying that during the first Gulf war one of the Iowas was used for bombarding Iraqi positions? I would have thought that 9 tons of shells arriving every few minutes would be rather frightening!

Indeed. But they would lack the precision of a Tomohawk missile......

[Thorsten Wahl]

if they use copperhead type ammunition the accuracy should be adequately.

[Byron Angel]

..... The type of target is also a factor. If the quarry is an individual high value point target, then a precision munition is desirable. If the mission is against a field full of soft transport vehicles or a storage dump, then observed area fire by conventional munitions would IMO be adequate.


B