List of broadsides of major World War II ships

The list of broadsides of major World War II ships is a comparative listing ranking the main armament broadside weight of major vessels in service during World War II. Listed are the broadside in pounds and kilograms (for a single main battery salvo), as well as the range to which it can be fired in yards and kilometres and the maximum rate of fire in salvos per minute. However, the list does not account for the variances in fire control, which by the end of the war was firmly in the Allies' favor with advances in radar technology.

Items are listed in order of broadside weight.

Country	Vessel	No. built	Main gun: number and caliber	Broadside weight		Maximum range		Maximum rate of fire (/min)
				(lb)	(kg)	(yd)	(km)
Japan	Yamato-class battleship	2	9 x 46 cm (18.1 in) 45 cal Type 94	28,971	13,141	45,960	42.0	2
USA	Iowa-class battleship	4	9 x 16" 50 cal Mark 7	24,300	11,022	42,345	38.7	2
USA	North Carolina-class battleship	2	9 x 16" 45 cal Mark 6	24,300	11,022	36,900	33.7	2
USA	South Dakota-class battleship	4	9 x 16" 45 cal Mark 6	24,300	11,022	36,900	33.7	2
UK	Nelson-class battleship	2	9 x BL 16-inch Mk I	18,432	8,360	39,780	36.4	1.5
USA	Tennessee-class battleship	2	12 x 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11	18,000	8,165	36,300	33.2	2
USA	New Mexico-class battleship	3	12 x 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11	18,000	8,165	36,300	33.2	2
USA	Pennsylvania-class battleship	2	12 x 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12	18,000	8,165	36,000	33.0	2
Japan	Nagato-class battleship	2	8 x 16" 45 cal 3rd Year Type	17,992	8,161	42,000	38.4	2
USA	Colorado-class battleship	3	8 x 16" 45 cal Mark 5	17,920	8,128	35,000	32.0	2
Japan	Ise-class battleship	2	12 x 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type	17,820	8,083	38,770	35.5	2
Japan	Fusō-class battleship	2	12 x 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type	17,820	8,083	38,770	35.5	2
Italy	Vittorio Veneto-class battleship	3	9 x 15" 50 cal Ansaldo 1934	17,559	7,964	46,216	42.3	1.3
UK	King George V-class battleship	5	10 x BL 14-inch Mk VII	15,900	7,212	38,560	35.3	2
France	Richelieu-class battleship	2	8 x 15" 45 cal Modèle 1935	15,592	7,070	45,600	41.7	2
UK	Queen Elizabeth-class battleship	5	8 x BL 15-inch Mk I	15,504	7,030	33,550	30.7	2
UK	Revenge-class battleship	5	8 x BL 15-inch Mk I	15,504	7,030	33,550	30.7	2
UK	battlecruiser HMS Hood	1	8 x BL 15-inch Mk I	15,360	6,970	30,180	27.6	2
USA	Nevada-class battleship	2	10 x 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12	15,000	6,800	36,000	33.0	2
USA	New York-class battleship	2	10 x 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12	15,000	6,800	36,000	33.0	2
Germany	Bismarck-class battleship	2	8 x 15" 52 cal SK C/34	14,112	6,400	38,880	35.6	2.5
France	Bretagne-class battleship	3	10 x 13.4" 45 cal M1912	12,680	5,752	29,090	26.6	2
USSR	Gangut-class battleship	4	12 x 12" 52 cal P1907	12,456	5,650	32,080	29.3	2-3
Japan	Kongō-class battlecruiser	4	8 x 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type	11,880	5,389	38,770	35.5	2
UK	Renown-class battlecruiser	2	6 x BL 15-inch Mk I	11,628	5,274	33,550	30.7	2
Italy	Andrea Doria-class battleship	2	10 x 12.6" 44 cal M1936	11,570	5,248	31,280	28.6	2
Italy	Conte di Cavour-class battleship	2	10 x 12.6" 44 cal M1934	11,570	5,248	31,280	28.6	2
France	Courbet-class battleship	2	12 x 12" 45 cal M1910	11,424	5,182	25,150	23.0	2
Argentina	Rivadavia-class battleship	2	12 x 12" 50 cal Bethlehem	10,440	4,736	24,000	22.0	2-3
USA	Battleship USS Arkansas	1	12 x 12" 50 cal Mark 7	10,440	4,736	24,000	22.0	3
USA	Alaska-class cruiser	2	9 x 12" 50 cal Mark 8	10,260	4,654	38,573	35.3	3
Brazil	Battleship Minas Geraes	2	12 x 12" 45 cal EOC	10,200	4,627	18,850	17.2	3
France	Dunkerque-class battlecruiser	2	8 x 13" 50 cal M1931	9,880	4,481	45,600	41.7	2
Turkey	Battlecruiser Yavuz	1	10 x 11.1" 50 cal SK	6,660	3,020	23,730	21.7	3
Germany	Scharnhorst-class battleship	2	9 x 11.1" 54.5 cal SK C/34	6,552	2,972	44,760	40.9	3
Germany	Deutschland-class cruiser	3	6 x 11.1" 52 cal SK C/28	3,966	1,799	39,890	36.5	2
UK	Roberts-class monitor	2	2 x BL 15-inch Mk I	3,840	1,742	32,500	29.7	2
UK	Erebus-class monitor	2	2 x BL 15-inch Mk I	3,840	1,742	32,500	29.7	2
USA	5 of 7 New Orleans-class cruisers	5	9 x 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15	3,015	1,368	30,050	27.5	4
USA	Baltimore-class cruiser	12	9 x 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15	3,015	1,368	30,050	27.5	4
Japan	Takao-class cruiser	4	10 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2	2,770	1,256	32,150	29.4	4
Japan	Mogami-class cruiser	4	10 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2	2,770	1,256	32,150	29.4	4
Japan	Myōkō-class cruiser	4	10 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2	2,770	1,256	32,150	29.4	4
USA	Pensacola-class cruiser	2	10 x 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14	2,600	1,179	31,860	29.1	4
Germany	Battleship Schlesien	2	4 x 11.1" 40 cal SK	2,504	1,136	28,040	25.6	2
France	Suffren-class cruiser	7	8 x 8" 50 cal M1924	2,360	1,070	34,340	31.4	5
France	Duquesne-class cruiser	2	8 x 8" 50 cal M1924	2,360	1,070	34,340	31.4	5
USA	2 of 7 New Orleans-class cruisers	2	9 x 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14	2,340	1,061	31,860	29.1	4
Greece	Cruiser Georgios Averof	1	4 x 9.2" 45 cal Mk X + 8 x 7.5"	2,320	1,052
Japan	Tone-class cruiser	2	8 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2	2,216	1,005	32,150	29.4	4
Italy	Zara-class cruiser	4	8 x 8" 53 cal Ansaldo M1927	2,210	1,002	34,520	31.6	4
Italy	1 of 3 Trento-class cruisers (the Bolzano)	1	8 x 8" 53 cal Ansaldo M1929	2,210	1,002	34,520	31.6	4
Germany	Admiral Hipper-class cruiser	4	8 x 8" 60 cal SK c/34	2,152	976	36,680	33.5	5
Italy	2 of 3 Trento-class cruisers	2	8 x 8" 50 cal Model 1924	2,080	944	30,620	28.0	1.5
UK	County-class cruiser	13	8 x BL 8-inch Mk VIII	2,048	929	30,650	28.0	5
Italy	Cruiser San Giorgio	1	4 x 10" 45 cal Model 1908	2,000	907	27,300	25.0	3
Finland	Väinämöinen-class coastal defense ship	2	4 x 10"	1,984	900	33,140	30.3	3
USA	Brooklyn-class cruiser	7	15 x 6" 47 cal Mark 16	1,950	885	26,118	23.9	8
USSR	Kirov-class cruiser	6	9 x 7.1" 57 cal	1,935	878	41,000	37.5	6
Japan	Aoba-class cruiser	2	6 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2	1,662	754	32,150	29.4	4
Japan	Furutaka-class cruiser	2	6 x 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2	1,662	754	32,150	29.4	4
USA	Cleveland-class cruiser	27	12 x 6" 47 cal Mark 16	1,560	708	26,118	23.9	8
UK	York-class cruiser	2	6 x BL 8-inch Mk VIII	1,536	697	30,650	27.9	5
Japan	Kasuga-class cruiser	2	1 x 10" + 2 x 8" + 4 x 6"	1,400	635	19,700	18.0	3
UK	1936 Town class cruiser	10	12 x 6-inch Mk XXIII	1,344	610	25,480	23.3	6
UK	Crown Colony-class cruiser	11	12 x 6-inch Mk XXIII	1,344	610	25,400	23.2	6
Argentina	Veinticinco de Mayo-class cruiser	2	6 x 7.5" 52 cal	1,200	544	29,855	27.3
Denmark	Coast defense ship Peder Skram	1	2 x 9.4" + 4 x 5.9"	1,154	523
Italy	Abruzzi subclass of Condottieri-class cruisers	2	10 x 6" 53 cal M1934, M1936	1,102	500	28,150	25.7	4
France	La Galissonnière-class cruiser	10	9 x 152 mm (6.0 in) 55 cal	1,071	486	28,952	26.5	8
Netherlands	Java-class cruiser	2	10 x 5.9" 50 cal	1,030	467	23,200	21.2
Denmark	Coast defense ship Niels Juel	1	10 x 5.9"	1,010	458
Argentina	Independencia-class coastal defense ship	2	2 x 9.4" 40 cal	1,000	454
France	Duguay-Trouin-class cruiser	3	8 x 155 mm (6.1 in) 50 cal	1,000	454	28,540	26.1	4
Japan	Izumo-class cruiser	2	4 x 203 mm (8.0 in) 45 cal	1,000	454	19,700	18.0	5
Japan	Cruiser Yakumo (training duties only during WWII)	1	4 x 8" 45 cal	1,000	454	19,700	18.0	5
Japan	Cruiser Azuma (training duties only during WWII)	1	4 x 8" 45 cal	1,000	454	19,700	18.0	5
Argentina	Cruiser La Argentina	1	9 x 6" 50 cal	900	408	25,700	23.5
Germany	"K" class cruiser	3	9 x 149.1 mm (5.9 in) C/25	900	408	28,100	25.7	8
Germany	Leipzig-class cruiser	2	9 x 149.1 mm (5.9 in) 60 cal	900	408	28,100	25.7	8
Australia	Light cruiser HMAS Adelaide	1	9 x 6-inch Mk XII	900	408	21,500	19.6	5-7
UK	Leander-class cruiser	7	8 x 6-inch Mk XXIII	896	406	25,480	23.3	6
USSR	Cruiser Krasny Kavkaz	1	4 x 7.1" 57 cal	860	390	41,000	37.5	6
USA	Omaha-class cruiser	10	4 x 6" 53 cal Mark 16 & 3 x 6" 53 cal Mark 13 (per side)	840	381	25,300 Mark 16	23.1 Mark 16	5
Italy	3 of 4 subclasses of Condottieri-class cruisers	10	8 x 6" 53 cal M1926, M1929	838	380	24,716	22.6	4 (M1926) 8 (M1929)
Japan	Chikuma-class cruiser	3	8 x 6" 45 cal	800	363	16,185	14.8
UK	Dido-class cruiser	11	10 x QF 5.25-inch Mk I	800	363	24,070	22.0	7
USA	4 of 8 Atlanta-class cruisers	4	12 + 2 wingmount per side = 14 x 5" 38 cal Mark 12	773	350	17,392	15.9	15 - 22
Japan	Cruiser Ōyodo	1	6 x 6.1" 60 cal	738	335	29,960	27.4	5
Netherlands	Cruiser De Ruyter	1	7 x 5.9" 50 cal	721	327	23,200	21.2
Argentina	Coast defense ship General Belgrano	2	2 x 10" 35 cal	706	320
UK	Emerald-class cruiser	2	7 x BL 6-inch Mark VII	700	318	18,750	17.1	5
UK	Arethusa-class cruiser	4	6 x BL 6-inch Mk XXIII	672	305	25,480	23.3	6
USA	4 of 8 Atlanta-class cruisers	4	12 x 5" 38 cal Mark 12	662	300	17,392	15.9	15 - 22
USSR	Cruiser Krasni Krym	2	8 (of 15) x 5.1" 55 cal	648	294	20,690	19.2	6
Norway	Coast defense ship Harald Haarfagre	4	2 x 8.2"	626	284
Netherlands	Cruiser Tromp	2	6 x 5.9" 50 cal	618	280	23,200	21.2
Germany	Cruiser Emden	1	8 x 150 mm (5.9 in) 45 cal	600	272	18,370	16.8
Japan	Agano-class cruiser	4	6 x 150 mm (5.9 in) 50 cal	600	272	22,970	21.0	8
UK	Danae-class cruiser	8	6 x BL 6-inch Mk XII	600	272	21,500	19.6	5-7
Italy	Capitani Romani-class cruiser	3	8 x 5.3" 45 cal M1938	577	262	21,435	19.6	6
Japan	Cruiser Yūbari	1	6 x 5.5" 50 cal	500	227	19,140	17.5	8
Japan	Sendai-class cruiser	3	6 x 5.5" 50 cal	500	227	19,140	17.5	8
Japan	Nagara-class cruiser	6	6 x 5.5" 50 cal	500	227	19,140	17.5	8
Japan	Kuma-class cruiser	5	6 x 5.5" 50 cal	500	227	19,140	17.5	8
Japan	Seaplane carrier Nisshin	1	6 x 5.5" 50 cal	500	227	19,140	17.5	8
UK	C-class cruiser	4	5 x BL 6-inch Mk XII	500	227	21,500	19.6	5-7