Yamato and Bismark vs Uss Iowa and Uss Missouri - who wins?

Question

In a fair fight with no submarines,aircrafts or initial pre-battle damage who wins this knock out fight?

Answer 1

USS Iowa & USS Missouri. From the time of the American reconquest of Philippines, they had already installed radars on their battle ships which would help in the accurate ranging & targeting of their fire control system & more often than not, they could see beyond the horizon & deliver their punishing salvoes even before they are even sighted by the Japanese or Germans.

Answer 2

I think those writing off the Bismarck do so with haste. The Missouri might have had the better radar but at the same time the USN was still being surprised by Japanese night-time actions. The Bismarck perhaps a lesser for not having more advanced radar yet that didn't seem to have much of an effect when the Hood was sunk within the first few opening salvos of that engagement; when it was the Bismarcks turn to go the ship suffered a mighty pounding before it sank and even to this day speculation remains about whether the crew scuttled the ship... anyone who thinks the Missouri would just fire a few shots and win walking away unscathed are disillusion. I'm not going to say either ship has an outright guaranteed win, the thing is the first casualty of any battle is the perceived plan and the Bismarck had an equal chance of winning - the differences between ships not that far apart. Ofyen in naval battles it's one specific commander that determines a battles outcome, makes a crucial decision at the crucial time... a battle between Missouri and Bismarck might just as easily be won by the more able commander than a difference in ships of a same class.

Answer 3

The fire control radar on the American ships would totally let the Missouri and Iowa devastate the Yamato or the Bismark. The fire control of the American ships of all sizes was just too accurate and in night engagements was just devastating when the Japanese had to use visual sighting. The Yamato in the battle of the Layte Gulf proved to be of no consequence and even the Japanese other heavy battleships and cruisers had a hard time hitting targets and withdrew after devastating fire from US destroyers made them think they were US light cruisers. Again fire control is the difference. I was a fire control tech. in the Navy and our old system in the 70s could lock on a targert at 100000 yds. The fire control computer I used was the same as those used in WWll and was so accurate that it was used into the 70s.

Answer 4

Well, the Yamato's 18 inch guns would be a big advantage, and the Bismark had a gunsight system second to none at the time. However the USN probably had the superior fire control system, and better damage control. In the end the sheer brute force of the too big for the Panama canal Yamato would probably rule the day. She was in a league all her own. However, luck is always a big factor. I doubt the Bismark's crew though they would be vulnerable to canvas-covered biplanes!

Answer 5

Fair fight, Yamato guns outranged the American ships, Bismark was a pocket battleship and was faster and more agile, Japanese and German gunnery and training were far more superior and effective....

Score...Bismark and Yamato 1 - Iowa and Missouri 0

Answer 6

Iowa and Missouri. they are faster, heavier armament than Bismarck , they have fire control ,superior radar, better armor than Bismarck, and longer range than both Yamato and Bismarck.