alecsandros wrote:I dug this up some time ago, but I only decided to reply now.
From a pure technological point of view, Bismarck would most likely make Rodney a steaming pile of rubble, because of:
"steaming pile of rubble" is not a term I'd use ... it implies all sorts of emotional overtones some people have in this forum, like "if it's German it is always better".
- faster speed >> the Rodney couldn't get away
Why would Rodney want to get away unless she was so badly damaged she couldn't run away anyway? Bismarck probably gets to choose whether or not to fight.
- much better fire control, stability and grouping of salvos >>> greater probability of early straddles/hits
- much higher rate of fire >>> much more tons of shells/minute, once the target is locked (about 16 tons fired from BS vs 12,5 tons fired from Rodney)
I agree these might be important, and it might be the most important difference between the two ships.
- greater internal subdivision, better protected vitals >>> better survivability under Rodney's fire than the other way around
While true, I don't see how this makes one outcome more likely than another. It just makes Bismarck harder to sink after Rodney has "won" the actual gunnery duel.
Rodney's advantages, IMO, would be:
- better protection from diving shells coming from the SK34 guns than the BS has against Rodney's 406mm guns.
I don't think this is true. I think Rodney is vulnerable to diving shell. IIRC her belt is pretty shallow.
- better protected turrets and barbettes
True, and this could be important if the battle lasts very long.
- higher probable damage/shell, due to the bigger bursting charge and overall mass of the 16" shells.
I don't think this is a big factor. What will decide this is penetrating hits to weapons or fire control or vitals. It's very hard to get into Bismarck's vitals at the range likely for this battle except below her belt armor. Luck could be an important factor, and that seems to often be the case.
However, again, from a purely technological standpoint, I think Bismarck's advantages over the Rodney are more numerous and more important than the other way around.
I agree with this statement. Considering Bismarck's size and newness, it would look pretty bad if that wasn't the case.