Nah, 24 seconds at least for only calculating reloading sutff and about 4~6 second for gun aligning.
No. Yamato took ‘at least’ 30 seconds for reload, excluding gun elevation and aligning time. In actual it needs 40 seconds to reload and aligning guns. On the other hand, Iowa’s 30 seconds of reload is according to manual, which includes gun elevation and aligning time.
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in 1987 the 16"/50 was tested on an iowa class from 34,000yd and had a shell to shell dispersion of 123yd, 2,000 yards past the max range of the 15in, so id say they are equal in accuracy and the 16in has the range + damage advantage
Based upon what I can find the BL 15" Mk1 on Hood had a dispersal of 109m (119 yards) at a range of 20km (22k yards)
HMS Vanguard had a max range 38k yards.
The BL 15" MK1 entered service in 1912
38k yards? according to navweps anything past 32k wouldnt be possible since it never had the better charges
30k yards seems to be the max for something like Hood, But Vanguard was 34k yards and could use supercharges to reach a max of 38k yards (From wiki, but a book is referenced)
Fire rate, 2 rounds per minute
HMS Vanguard:
The main armament comprised so the eight 42-calibre BL 15-inch Mk I guns of the two battlecruiser, with some armour upgrades for their twin hydraulically powered gun turrets. They were as usual named “A” and “B” for the superfiring forward pair and “X”, “Y” for the aft one. Loading was done at +5° originally but the cradled were modernized to the Mk I(N) RP12 design, following the ones done ofnt Queen Elisabeth class. Thus, maximum elevation rose to +30°, ten more than the originals.
The 1,938-pound (879 kg) shells carried were a modernized version of the originals as well, with a muzzle velocity of 2,458 ft/s (749 m/s) and range of 33,550 yards (30,680 m) at 30°. Supercharges could be used to bring this to 37,870 yards (34,630 m) but this of course reduced the barrel’s life. Rate of fire was two rounds per minute and 100 shells per gun were carried, - Source
so it never fired them due to them not wanting extra barrel wear to be caused on the guns but if it entered combat it would have used them as the turrets/barbets were strengthened for the supecharges
Some further info:
All this meant that Vanguard gained the epithet – repeated in popular histories since – of being armed with ‘her great aunt’s teeth’.[23] However, the Vickers Mk I 15-inch/42 calibre gun was an outstanding weapon when first deployed in 1915,[24] offering excellent hitting power and range by First World War standards, coupled with superb accuracy and low bore wear.[25] And while by the 1930s this gun had been surpassed in size and many performance details,[26] it remained in front-line service with the Royal Navy.[27]
More to the point, while the Mk I 15-inch/42 lacked the range or armour penetration of more recent and larger weapons,[28] performance details such as muzzle velocity remained comparable with new-generation naval guns.[29] Furthermore, while below the general capabilities of the new-generation Mk II, III and, eventually, Mk IV 16-inch guns the British intended to deploy on the Lions,[30] the theoretical armour penetration of the MK I 15-inch/42 at specific ranges was marginally better than the new-generation Mk VII 14-inch/45 calibre guns fitted to the King George V class.[31] Deficiencies in range, by 1930s standards, were partially and variously corrected by modifying some of the Mk I mountings to 30 degree elevation, introducing more streamlined (6-crh) shells, and permitting heavier charges (‘supercharges’) on unmodified mountings.[32] Vanguard, it is worth noting, had modified mountings and not supercharges.[33] - Source
So, being such a long serving gun. I wouldnt be surprsied if there was a mix of data. It was in service for 45 years (the guns)
and that. Why push the guns to their max when it simply wasnt needed. Especially as the era of the Battleship/Battlecruiser was for the most part. Over.
well it was mainly firing guns for ceremonial purposes and presumable the odd bit of target practice
but it never used supercharges, afaik those were only for land mounts
Because it is needed and the era of batleship/battlecruiser was not over. It was until late 1950s that Western could confirm that USSR finally let their battleship dream gone, and they could get reliable anti-ship nuclear attack. Until then, battleships were needed for last insurance against possible future soviet battleship.
From what I can find. It could use them, But didnt. But ony Vanguard
the supercharges were used on the 15 inch mounts that had limmited elevation angles and only vangard had its turrets modified to use them but never did due to peace time operations
But, no nation was churning out mass numbers of battleships. Instead stronger aircraft carriers were developed.
Even by the end of WW2, You didnt have Yamato vs Iowa showdowns. Yamato was ultimately sunk by aircraft.
That is what I mean. The time of Battle of Jutland style engagements ended during WW2
looks like the 16/50 could hit 41k yards on regular charge
A 26 year newer gun, in a larger calibre. Yeah, probably could
The impressive thing to remember about the 15" Mk1. It entered service in 1915. Vs Iowa in 1941
Well operational plan and real life is always different. At least, navies sees big bomber with guided bombs were more dangerous than pack of carrierborne aircraft although later one sunk more battleships than former. In same logic, though turn of tide has come from battleships to carriers, battleships needs to be last insurance against enemy battleship, especially in a close range that can be occured in Baltic and Black Sea.
US Navy still operates Iowa class and put NC and SD class in reserve for such role. Royal Navy also keeps KGV class for such roles. Don’t ask for QE/R and standard battleships as they were supposed to end its life at 1920s if not treaty was assigned and already at limit of their hull lifetime.
yeah but the ranges you give for the 15in are for the mid 1930s overhaul, so yeah, the basis for the gun is quite old, but was pretty heavily upgraded
Yep, which is why Vanguard stayed in service till 1960.