Out of curiosity, can a battleship unload its main guns at a target right in front of it?
- Like the Richelieu class battleship, which had its full main armament facing the front.
- Or even a ship like the Bismarck or the Iowa ... could they at least fire both their forward turrets at a target directly in front of it?
I mean, yes, I know it would probably damage the deck if done repeatedly, but as a just in case. I guess that would be why broadsides would be preferred. (On the other hand, battleships are designed to withstand the blast from their own guns - even if you fire all of them simultaneously.)
And another thing ... if they could, then why don't battleships just have their full main armament face the front? Like the Richelieu?
2007-02-26 08:17:46 · 7 answers · asked by ch_ris_l 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The first Question is yes the guns can be traned down to zero degrees and fired.
The Second is because the broadside shows all the main guns and half of the secondary armament of the ship.
by looking at the Richelieu Class and Nelson Class, you understand the problems of having all the main guns in the front. Nelson class Battleships can't fire the third turret unless fasing broadside to the target. If Richelieu lost one of its main turrets, then half of its main cannons are gone. The easest was that the ship is weak at the rear-end. The secondary guns would not have the reach as the main guns.
2007-02-26 11:41:24 · answer #1 · answered by MG 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Richelieu Class Battleship
2016-10-19 05:13:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes a battleship could fire its guns forward. It's more about design than anything else. If you place all your main guns forward, ex Richelieu, then you also risk a lucky shot disabling or destroying all your main weapons. An improved Richelieu design moved one of the quadruple aft.
2007-02-27 04:46:52 · answer #3 · answered by rz1971 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they had turrets that would turn to cover the front. Usually they had two forward turrets and two rear turrets.
Crossing the T was a naval term for crossing to the front of an enemy ship or line so only their foward guns could shoot back, while all your guns could shoot at them.
Turrets allowed the guns to be aimed independently of the ship. If you had guns only on the front, you would have to turn the ponderous ship to aim them.
2007-02-26 08:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by glenn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey, ask the Confederate Ironclad if it hindered them?
2007-02-26 08:26:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2007-02-26 08:25:30 · answer #6 · answered by Vrael 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋