You’re absolutely right to point out the Bismarck’s rate-of-fire advantage, but there are several nuances that make this comparison more complex than it seems at first glance.
While the Bismarck could indeed fire faster, that doesn’t automatically mean it would overwhelm the Yamato especially in a head-to-head confrontation between these two naval giants.
First, the firepower of Yamato’s main guns can’t be ignored. Even with a slower rate of fire (around 1.5 to 2 rounds per minute), its 460 mm shells had far greater penetration and destructive capability compared to Bismarck’s 380 mm shells. A single well-placed hit from the Yamato could severely damage or outright disable critical systems on the Bismarck, such as its main gun turrets something the Bismarck would have a much harder time doing in return.
At long range, the Yamato also had superior reach and accuracy. The Bismarck, despite having an impressive 3 rounds per minute, didn’t have the same ability to hit accurately at extreme ranges or inflict comparable damage. Yamato’s guns had longer reach and packed far more destructive potential.
Also, the idea that Bismarck could “overwhelm” Yamato through sheer volume of fire overlooks just how resilient Yamato was. It was built to withstand much heavier hits than what the Bismarck could deliver. So even if the Bismarck managed more shots, those shells would likely do less damage per hit compared to the few but brutal blows from Yamato.
And finally, comparing Bismarck vs. Yamato to cases like Mutsu vs. Mississippi isn’t really fair the ships involved have completely different levels of armor, firepower, and design philosophy. Yamato wasn’t just a ship with bigger guns it was a ship built to take punishment and still remain a serious threat.
In short, while Bismarck’s higher rate of fire could be a tactical advantage in other scenarios, against a ship like Yamato, that edge would be mostly neutralized by Yamato’s sheer firepower, range, and armor. Even with fewer shots, Yamato would likely control the pace and outcome of the battle.
Look, here’s the thing I wanted to point out:
Even if the Bismarck manages to land a few solid hits that technically cause damage maybe even force part of Yamato’s crew to split up or deal with fires it still wouldn’t stand a real chance in a prolonged fight against the Yamato.
The Yamato could literally be on fire in one, two, or even three compartments and still be fully operational. It was just that massive and well designed.
Now, talking about War Thunder specifically, we all know Gaijin loves “balance,” but let’s be honest: that forced balance often turns amazing vehicles, jets, ships, and AA systems into underperformers or completely strips them of the role they were originally built for.
We’ve seen this happen repeatedly, especially with jets and tanks from the two main nations. So let’s not kid ourselves the Yamato will get nerfed just so it can have a “fair” fight with the Bismarck. That’s just how the game works, like it or not.
And no disrespect, but when people try to argue that Bismarck’s faster reload, older 1930s-era armor, and overall design are enough to go toe-to-toe with the Yamato which had all the latest 1940s tech and was literally built to dominate the Pacific. I just can’t let that slide without saying something.
