Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: syhprum on 16/10/2020 08:50:44

Title: What proportion of 16" shells fired by battleships hit their targets
Post by: syhprum on 16/10/2020 08:50:44

It is hard to believe that with the technology of a hundred years ago no radar, only mechanical computers and no spotter aircraft many did.
did the shells have any time of flight timers or were fuses sensitive that they exploded hitting the water nearby.
These massive guns made the navies seem really impressive but were they any use against other battleships ?   

Title: Re: What proportion of 16" shells fired by battleships hit their targets
Post by: Bored chemist on 16/10/2020 10:33:51

I don't know but the fact that these captains decided to fire at a range of 15 miles suggests that they thought they had a reasonable chance of scoring a hit (and, indeed, they did).
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-range-hit-by-a-ships-gun

Presumably the odds were better at shorter range.

On a related note, the Blitz killed about 40,000 people.
The Germans dropped about 45000 bombs
On average, a bomb killed slightly less than 1 person.

War is spectacularly inefficient.

Title: Re: What proportion of 16" shells fired by battleships hit their targets
Post by: alancalverd on 16/10/2020 11:41:53

The most remarkable aspect of the Scharnhorst and Warspite battles is that they were practically firing over the horizon

 

Quote

For an observer standing on a hill or tower 30 metres (98 ft) above sea level, the horizon is at a distance of 19.6 kilometres (12.2 mi). For an observer standing on a hill or tower 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level, the horizon is at a distance of 36 kilometres (22 mi).