Arizona V Royal Oak

[Gary]

Hi Guys.

Bismarck should (in theory) triumph over Arizona.

Lets give Arizona an opponent from her Era.

HMS Royal Oak.

12 X 14" guns versus 8 X 15"

Royal Oak is quite well protected for ship of the line slug outs.

We'll set the date at the mid 1920's

Post your opinions guys.

[Bgile]

Dunno. Equal?

I'd prefer to have USS California or New Mexico, but they were newer.

[Karl Heidenreich]

First, for you curiosity go here:

http://www.hmsroyaloak.co.uk/construction.html

Second: let´s see RO vs. Arizona

I. Displacement:
- Arizona: 34,207 tons
- Royal Oak: 29,000 tons

II. Lenght:
- Arizona: 185.23 mts
- Royal Oak: 190.11 mts.

III. Beam:
- Arizona: 32.38 mts.
- Royal Oak: 31.23 mts

IV. Speed:
- Arizona: 20.7 knots
- Royal Oak: 21 knots

V. Main armament:
- Arizona: 12 x 14"
- Royal Oak: 8 x 15"

There isn´t enough information for me: I´ll need the armor specifications for Royal Oak, and I don´t find it. It seems (look: I say "seems" ) that Royal Oak, being 5 mts. longer than Arizona but 5,000 tons lighter is, also, less armoured. I also believed that the damage received by Arizona was heavier than Royal Oak
The Arizona seems stronger but Royal Oak had 8 x 15". Is there some more specification of Royal Oak´s main guns?
Best regards!

[Gary]

Hi Karl.

thanks for the link.

I dont have information on the British 15" at hand but it was a more powerful gun than the US 14" however..............Arizona had 12 guns to Royal Oaks 8

[Bgile]

The firepower really depends on when the battle takes place. The US Battleships with 14" guns were regunned in the 1930s, after which they were capable of greater armor penetration than the British 15" gun, mainly due to significantly higher muzzle velocity.

Earlier on, their guns were clearly inferior.

[Karl Heidenreich]

Just found this:

Royal Oak´s 15" guns:
Shell of 876 kg.
Range: 29,000 mts.

Total shaft HP:
40,000 hp.

Arizona´s shells were 636 kg only with 31,000 mts range. We must take into account what Bgile comments above.

Have a good weekend!

[marcelo_malara]

Hi all.

Royal Oak was protected by:

Main belt (located below main deck): 13" centre, 6"/4" ends
Upper belt (between main and upper deck) and battery (between upper deck and forecastle deck): 6"

Forecastle deck (over battery): 1"
Upper deck: 1 1/2"
Main deck (located on top main belt): 2"/1 1/2"/1"

Barbettes: 10"
Gunhouses: 13"

[Karl Heidenreich]

Fighting Steel gives Arizona 2 of 2 wins.
Weird if we take into account that RO had 15" guns against the 14" of Arizona.
Bgile is quite right: the simulator is just for fun. From now on I´ll restrain to use it to test theories.
Best regards!

[Gary]

Arizona 2 Royal Oak 0

[nwhdarkwolf]

I think Fighting Steel has it right here. The RO would have longer range than the AZ, but...At what cost? The RO was, apparently, less armored than the AZ. That being the case, the AZ would win hands down. It might be painful, but still.

[yellowtail3]

I'd expect the Arizona to prevail, esp. after her 1930s modernization. No guarantees, of course... but just more likely.

[alecsandros]

I think in a battle like this grouping, rate of fire and broadside are the key factors.

Arizona broadside 8.16 tons ---> Royal Oak broadside 7.03 tons (according to navalweapons)

Arizona rof 1.25-1.75 rounds/minute ---> Royal Oak rof 2 rounds/minute

Grouping ---> I don't know

[dunmunro]

a few items:
1) max range for RO= 24kyds, with standard charges. With Supercharges = ~30k yds
2) The USN gun has ~1" better pentration at 20k yds with standard charges, with SC this is reversed. (I think NaAB may have to be massaged a bit here)
3) The 15" shell has a 48.5lb burster versus 23lb for the USN 14". This makes a 15" hit far more destructive.
4) RO will probably have an efficient radar ranging system, sooner than Arizona.

[tommy303]

As Gary has set the time frame for the duel in the mid 1920s, radar is a non-issue for both units.

[RF]

Personally I am inclined to vote for Royal Oak, although I think it could be pretty close.