The USS Nevada and the German battleship Bismarck were both iconic warships of their time, but they were designed for very different eras of naval warfare, and the question of whether Nevada could have destroyed the Bismarck depends on several factors, including the circumstances of the engagement and the conditions under which it took place. Let’s break this down.
The Ships in Comparison
USS Nevada
Type: Dreadnought battleship
Commissioned: 1916
Displacement: 27,500 tons (standard), later modernized to around 30,500 tons
Armament (post-modernization):
10 × 14-inch (356 mm) guns in twin and triple turrets
16 × 5-inch (127 mm) dual-purpose guns
Secondary anti-aircraft armament added during WWII.
Speed: 20.5 knots
Armor: Designed to resist hits from 14-inch shells, with a belt thickness of up to 13.5 inches.
Nevada was part of the early dreadnought generation and was modernized between the wars. It was robust but relatively slow and lacked the advanced fire control and armor layout of more modern battleships.
Bismarck
Type: Fast battleship
Commissioned: 1940
Displacement: 41,700 tons (standard), up to 50,000 tons fully loaded
Armament:
8 × 15-inch (380 mm) guns in four twin turrets
12 × 5.9-inch (150 mm) secondary guns
16 × 4.1-inch (105 mm) dual-purpose guns
Numerous smaller anti-aircraft guns.
Speed: 30 knots
Armor: 12.6-inch main belt, sloped for added protection, with up to 14 inches on turret faces.
The Bismarck was a much more modern battleship, designed with advanced armor schemes, superior firepower, and higher speed. It was built to counter multiple enemy warships and had state-of-the-art fire control systems.
A Hypothetical Engagement
If the USS Nevada had faced off against the Bismarck, several factors would play a role:
Firepower
Bismarck’s Advantage: Its 15-inch guns outranged Nevada’s 14-inch guns and could penetrate Nevada’s armor at longer ranges. In a long-range duel, Bismarck's firepower and accuracy would likely dominate.
Nevada’s Challenge: While its 14-inch guns were powerful, they were not designed to compete with battleships as advanced as the Bismarck. Nevada would need to close the range significantly to have a chance of penetrating Bismarck's armor.
Speed and Maneuverability
Bismarck’s Speed: At 30 knots, Bismarck could dictate the terms of engagement, choosing to engage or disengage at will.
Nevada’s Limitations: At only 20.5 knots, Nevada would struggle to keep pace, making it an easier target and reducing its ability to close the range effectively.
Armor
Bismarck’s Superiority: Its sloped belt and advanced armor design would give it an edge in absorbing damage, especially at longer ranges.
Nevada’s Vulnerability: While heavily armored for its time, Nevada's protection scheme was not as modern or comprehensive as Bismarck’s, making it more vulnerable to long-range fire.