It is likely that similar conditions would have existed had Halsey detached Admiral Lee at Layte Gulf, with the engagement happening in the low light and poor visibility of early dawn. The Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal is also an excellent example of the ideal conditions for the USN to fight. By the end of the engagement, at a range of 8,400 yds, the 16"/50 mk 7 could penetrate even the massively thick turret faces of the Yamato. Substitution of the Iowa for the Washington only makes it more laughable. Had Yamato received these hits, it is quite possible that she too would have rolled over and sank! Of the penetrations inflicted on Kirishima, 7 were at or below the waterline, all on the same side. The only difference would have been that Yamato's guns would have stayed in action longer (the turret faces were the only invulnerability she had to the 16"/45), giving her the ability to punch back a bit, but in the end that many hits are going to leave a mark. Washington's 16"/45 mk 6 guns were more than capable of penetrating almost all of Yamato's armor at the ranges involved (Washington opened fire at 12,650 yds, ), Yamato's increased size and poorer handling would have made hits even more likely. Had the Yamato sortied rather than Kirishima, it is likely she would have been hit just as hard. She scored 20 hits with her main battery, giving a VERY IMPRESSIVE main battery accuracy of 17%. Washington fired 117 shells from her main battery. For battleship shooting, that's actually rather good.Ī more comparable example would be the Washington vs the Kirishima. There were too many hits on the yamashiro.Ĥ hits in the first 6 salvos comes out to 4/54 = 7%. I agree, their accuracy could have been better.Īfter that, they weren't able to figure out what was hitting and what was not. Also, the WV observed at least 4 confirmed hits in its first 6 salvos with 1 possible hit. Scroll to the bottom, there is a referenced table in the appendix section.
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