Bismarck Technical Data and Top 10 Battleship Comparison

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Battleship Bismarck General Layout

Laid down:	1 July 1936
Launched:	14 February 1939
Commissioned:	24 August 1940
Construction cost:	RM. 196.8 million¹⁾
Displacement: · Empty ship: · Standard: · Construction: · Full load: · Maximum:	40,250 metric tons 43,978 metric tons 47,870 metric tons 51,760 metric tons 53,486 metric tons
Dimensions: · Waterline length: · Overall length: · Beam: · Standard draught: · Maximum draught: · Freeboard amidships: · Depth:²⁾ · Waterplane area:	241.55 meters 250.50 meters 36.00 meters 9.33 meters 10.55 meters between 4.45 - 5.67 meters 15.00 meters 5,740 m²
Armour Protection: · Upper belt: · Main belt: · Main battery turrets: · Secondary battery turrets: · Upper deck: · Third armour deck: · Conning tower: · Torpedo bulkhead: · Protected length: · Sections within citadel: · Armour's weight:	145 mm 320 mm 130-360 mm 20-100 mm 50-80 mm 80-120 mm 220-350 mm 45 mm 70% (170.7 meters) 17 out of 22 19,082 metric tons
Armament: · Main: · Secondary: · Anti-aircraft: · Other:	8 x 38cm/L52 12 x 15cm/L55 16 x 10.5cm/L65 16 x 3.7cm/L83 20 x 2cm/L65 9 x depth charges
Fire control:	5 x 10.5-m base rangefinders 1 x 7-m base rangefinder 2 x 6.5-m base rangefinders 4 x 4-m Type SL-8 rangefinders 2 x 3-m rangefinders
Radar Equipment:	3 x FuMO 23
Propulsion plant:	12 Wagner boilers Three Blohm & Voss turbine sets 150,170 hp (maximum obtained)
Speed:	30.12 knots (maximum obtained)
Endurance:	9,280 nautical miles at 16 knots 8,900 nautical miles at 17 knots 8,525 nautical miles at 19 knots 6,640 nautical miles at 24 knots 4,500 nautical miles at 28 knots
Fuel oil capacity:	7,900 metric tons
Seaplanes:	4 x Arado Ar 196
Crew:	2,200+
Hull coefficients & ratios: · Ratio length/beam: · Ratio beam/draught: · Ratio draught/depth: · Ratio length/depth: · Block coefficient:³⁾ · Midship coefficient:⁴⁾ · Waterplane coefficient:⁵⁾ · Prismatic coefficient:⁶⁾ · Metacentric height (GM):	241.55 / 36.00 = 6.71 36.00 / 9.33 = 3.85 9.33 / 15.00 = 0.62 241.55 / 15.00 = 16.10 44,900 / (241.55 x 36.00 x 9.33) = 0.55 326 / (36.00 x 9.33) = 0.97 5,740 / (241.55 x 36.00) = 0.66 0.553 / 0.97 = 0.57 4.00 meters at 47,200 mt

1) At 1938 values.

2) This is the height of the hull sides measured amidships from the upper deck to the bottom of the keel.

3) The block coefficient (CB) is the ratio of the underwater hull volume of a ship at a particular draft to the volume of a rectangular prism (the circumscribing prism) of the same length, breadth, and draught as the ship. CB = V/(L x B x T)
Bismarck block coefficient is calculated as follows: CB = 44,900 mt / (241.55 m x 36 m x 9.33 m) = 0.55

4) The midship section coefficient (CM) is the ratio of the area of the underwater midship section (Am) of a ship at a particular draft to the area of a rectangle (the circumscribing rectangle) of the same breadth and draught as the ship. CM = Am/(B x T)
Bismarck midship section coefficient is calculated as follows: CM = 326 m² / (36 m x 9.33 m) = 0.97

5) The waterplane coefficient (CWP) is the ratio of the area of a ship’s waterplane (AWP) to the area of a rectangle (the circumscribing rectangle) of the same length and breadth as the ship. CWP = AWP/(L x B)
Bismarck waterplane coefficient is calculated as follows: CWP = 5,740 m² / (241.55 m x 36 m) = 0.66

6) The longitudinal prismatic coefficient (CP) is the ratio of the underwater hull volume of a ship to the volume of a prism with length equal to the ship’s and cross-section area identical to the midship section. In other words, the prismatic coefficient is equal to the block coefficient (CB) divided by the midship section coefficient (CM). CP = V/(Am x L) = CB/CM
Bismarck prismatic coefficient is calculated as follows: CP = 0.553 / 0.97 = 0.57

Characteristics of the Bismarck and other British capital ships involved during Rheinübung.¹⁾

Ship: Bismarck Hood Rodney King George V

Laid down: 1 July 1936 1 September 1916 28 December 1922 1 January 1937

Launched: 14 February 1939 22 August 1918 17 December 1925 21 February 1939

Commissioned: 24 August 1940 29 March 1920 November 1927 11 December 1940

Displacement:
- Standard:
- Full load:
43,978 mt
51,700 mt
43,144 mt
49,136 mt
33,700 mt
41,000 mt
38,600 mt
44,400 mt

Dimensions:
- Length overall:
- Beam:
- Maximum draft:
250.5 m
36 m
10.55 m
262.2 m
32.2 m
10.1 m
216.4 m
32.31 m
12.2 m
227.1 m
31.9 m
10.3 m

Armour:
- Main belt:
- Turrets:
- Upper deck:
- Armour deck:
- Protected length:
- Citadel Sections:
- Armour's weight:
320 mm
130-360 mm
50-80 mm
80-120 mm
70 %
17 out 22
19,082 mt
305 mm
127-381 mm
32 mm
51 mm
65 %
12 out of 19
13,650 mt
324-349 mm
184-406 mm
-
156 mm
53 %
9 out of 17?
14,250 mt
349-374 mm
150-324 mm
-
124-150 mm
59 %
10 out 21
12,612 mt

Armament:
- Main:
- Secondary:
- Anti-aircraft:

8 x 380 mm L/52
12 x 150 mm L/55
16 x 105 mm
16 x 37 mm
18 x 20 mm

8 x 381 mm L/42
-
14 x 102 mm
24 x 40 mm
16 x 12.7 mm
5 x 20 rockets
9 x 406 mm L/45
12 x 152 mm L/50
6 x 120 mm
24 x 40 mm

10 x 356 mm L/45
16 x 133 mm L/50
32 x 40 mm
4 x 20 rockets

Radar: 3 x FuMO 23 1 x Type 284
1 x Type 279M 1 x Type 279 ? 1 x Type 284
1 x Type 281

Aircraft: 4 x Arado Ar 196 - 1 x Walrus 4 x Walrus

Machinery: 12 boilers
3 sets of turbines
150,170 hp 24 boilers
4 sets of turbines
151,280 hp 8 boilers
2 sets of turbines
45,000 hp 8 boilers
4 sets of turbines
113,000 hp

Top Speed: 30 knots 29-30 knots 21 knots 28-29 knots

Endurance: 8,525 nm
at 19 knots 5,950 nm
at 18 knots 7,000 nm
at 16 knots 4,750 nm
at 18 knots

Fuel capacity: 7,900 mt 4,064 mt 3,805 mt 4,000 mt
Crew: 2,200+ 1,417 1,300 1,600

1) Data of the ships as they were in 1941.

Characteristics of the Bismarck and other battleships of the time in 1941.

Ship: Bismarck Richelieu Vittorio Veneto North Carolina

Laid down: 1 July 1936 22 October 1935 28 October 1934 27 October 1937

Launched: 14 February1939 17 January 1939 25 July 1937 13 June 1940

Commissioned: 24 August 1940 15 June 1940 1 May 1940 9 April 1941

Displacement:
- Standard:
- Full load:
43,978 mt
51,700 mt
38,450 mt
45,438 mt
41,167 mt
45,752 mt
37,178 mt
45,519 mt

Dimensions:
- Length overall:
- Beam:
- Maximum draft:
250.5 m
36 m
10.55 m
247.8 m
33.08 m
9.9 m
237.8 m
32.95 m
10.44 m
222.1 m
33 m
10.8 m

Armour:
- Main Belt:
- Turrets:
- Upper deck:
- Armour deck:
- Protected length:
- Citadel Sections:
- Armour's weight:
320 mm
130-360 mm
50-80 mm
80-120 mm
70 %
17/22
19,082 mt
327 mm
170-430 mm
24 mm
150-170 + 40 mm
54 %
10/21
16,400 mt
350 mm
130-380 mm
45 mm
112 mm
55 %
8/18
13,545 mt
305 mm
178-406 mm
37 mm
104 + 36 mm
60 %
9/18?
15,087 mt

Armament:
- Main:
- Secondary:
- Anti-aircraft:

8 x 380 mm L/52
12 x 150 mm L/55
16 x 105 mm
16 x 37 mm
18 x 20 mm
8 x 380 mm L/45
9 x 152 mm L/55
12 x 100 mm
12 x 37 mm
32 x 13.2 mm
9 x 381 mm L/50
12 x 152 mm L/55
12 x 90 mm
20 x 37 mm
20 x 20 mm
9 x 406 mm L/45
-
20 x 127 mm L/38
16 x 28 mm
12 x 12.7 mm

Aircraft: 4 x Arado Ar 196 3 x Loire 130 2-3 Romeo Ro 43 2 x Kingfisher

Machinery: 12 boilers
3 sets of turbines
150,170 hp 6 boilers
4 sets of turbines
179,000 hp 8 boilers
4 sets of turbines
140,000 hp 8 boilers
4 sets of turbines
122,000 hp

Top Speed: 30 knots 32.6 knots 30 knots 28 knots

Endurance: 8,525 nm
at 19 knots 9,500 nm
at 15 knots 4,584 nm
at 16 knots 17,450 nm
at 15 knots

Fuel capacity: 7,900 mt 6,000 mt 4,000 mt 6,300 mt

Crew: 2,200+ approx 1,600 1,920 2,300

Characteristics of Bismarck's sister ship and the last generation of battleships.

Ship: Tirpitz (1944) Yamato Iowa Vanguard

Laid down: 2 November 1936 4 November 1937 27 June 1940 2 October 1941

Launched: 1 April 1939 8 August 1940 27 August 1942 30 November 1944

Commissioned: 25 February 1941 16 December 1941 23 February 1943 9 August 1946

Displacement:
- Standard:
- Full load:
43,978 mt
51,700 mt
64,000 mt
72,800 mt
48,110 mt
57,500 mt
46,200 mt
51,400 mt

Dimensions:
- Length overall:
- Beam:
- Maximum draft:
250.5 m
36 m
10.61 m
263 m
37 m
10.86 m
270.4 m
32.9 m
11.3 m
249 m
32.8 m
10.5 m

Armour:
- Main Belt:
- Turrets:
- Upper deck:
- Armour deck:
- Protected length:
- Citadel Sections:
- Armour's weight:
320 mm
130-360 mm
50-80 mm
80-120 mm
70 %
17/22
19,082 mt
410 mm
270-650 mm
-
200-230 mm
60 %
?
21,200 mt
307 mm
185-432 mm
38 mm
121 + 32 mm
60 %
?
18,700 mt
349 mm
152-330 mm
-
127-152 mm
58 %
?
? mt

Armament:
- Main:
- Secondary:
- Anti-aircraft:

8 x 380 mm L/52
12 x 150 mm L/55
16 x 105 mm
16 x 37 mm
78 x 20 mm
9 x 459 mm L/45
12 x 155 mm L/60
12 x 127 mm
24 x 25 mm
4 x 13.2 mm
9 x 406 mm L/50
20 x 127 mm L/38
80 x 40 mm
49 x 20 mm
-
8 x 381 mm L/42
16 x 133 mm L/50
73 x 40 mm
-
-

Aircraft: 4 x Arado Ar 196 7 x Mitsubishi F1M 2-3 Kingfisher -

Machinery: 12 boilers
3 sets of turbines
163,024 hp 12 boilers
4 sets of turbines
153,000 hp 8 boilers
4 sets of turbines
212,000 hp 8 boilers
4 sets of turbines
130,000 hp

Top Speed: 30-31 knots 27-28 knots 33 knots 30 knots

Endurance: 8,870 nm
at 19 knots 7,200 nm
at 16 knots 18,000 nm
at 12 knots 9,000 nm
at 20 knots

Fuel capacity: 7,780 mt 6,300 mt 7,600 mt 7,000 mt

Crew: 2,600 3,300 2,700 2,000+

mt = metric tons, 1 mt = 1,000 kilograms

nm = nautical miles, 1 nm = 1,852 meters = 2,025 yards

1 knot = 1 nm/hour

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Ship:	*Bismarck*	*Hood*	*Rodney*	*King George V*
Laid down:	1 July 1936	1 September 1916	28 December 1922	1 January 1937
Launched:	14 February 1939	22 August 1918	17 December 1925	21 February 1939
Commissioned:	24 August 1940	29 March 1920	November 1927	11 December 1940
Displacement: - Standard: - Full load:	43,978 mt 51,700 mt	43,144 mt 49,136 mt	33,700 mt 41,000 mt	38,600 mt 44,400 mt
Dimensions: - Length overall: - Beam: - Maximum draft:	250.5 m 36 m 10.55 m	262.2 m 32.2 m 10.1 m	216.4 m 32.31 m 12.2 m	227.1 m 31.9 m 10.3 m
Armour: - Main belt: - Turrets: - Upper deck: - Armour deck: - Protected length: - Citadel Sections: - Armour's weight:	320 mm 130-360 mm 50-80 mm 80-120 mm 70 % 17 out 22 19,082 mt	305 mm 127-381 mm 32 mm 51 mm 65 % 12 out of 19 13,650 mt	324-349 mm 184-406 mm - 156 mm 53 % 9 out of 17? 14,250 mt	349-374 mm 150-324 mm - 124-150 mm 59 % 10 out 21 12,612 mt
Armament: - Main: - Secondary: - Anti-aircraft:	8 x 380 mm L/52 12 x 150 mm L/55 16 x 105 mm 16 x 37 mm 18 x 20 mm	8 x 381 mm L/42 - 14 x 102 mm 24 x 40 mm 16 x 12.7 mm 5 x 20 rockets	9 x 406 mm L/45 12 x 152 mm L/50 6 x 120 mm 24 x 40 mm	10 x 356 mm L/45 16 x 133 mm L/50 32 x 40 mm 4 x 20 rockets
Radar:	3 x FuMO 23	1 x Type 284 1 x Type 279M	1 x Type 279 ?	1 x Type 284 1 x Type 281
Aircraft:	4 x Arado Ar 196	-	1 x Walrus	4 x Walrus
Machinery:	12 boilers 3 sets of turbines 150,170 hp	24 boilers 4 sets of turbines 151,280 hp	8 boilers 2 sets of turbines 45,000 hp	8 boilers 4 sets of turbines 113,000 hp
Top Speed:	30 knots	29-30 knots	21 knots	28-29 knots
Endurance:	8,525 nm at 19 knots	5,950 nm at 18 knots	7,000 nm at 16 knots	4,750 nm at 18 knots
Fuel capacity:	7,900 mt	4,064 mt	3,805 mt	4,000 mt
Crew:	2,200+	1,417	1,300	1,600

Ship:	*Bismarck*	*Richelieu*	*Vittorio Veneto*	*North Carolina*
Laid down:	1 July 1936	22 October 1935	28 October 1934	27 October 1937
Launched:	14 February1939	17 January 1939	25 July 1937	13 June 1940
Commissioned:	24 August 1940	15 June 1940	1 May 1940	9 April 1941
Displacement: - Standard: - Full load:	43,978 mt 51,700 mt	38,450 mt 45,438 mt	41,167 mt 45,752 mt	37,178 mt 45,519 mt
Dimensions: - Length overall: - Beam: - Maximum draft:	250.5 m 36 m 10.55 m	247.8 m 33.08 m 9.9 m	237.8 m 32.95 m 10.44 m	222.1 m 33 m 10.8 m
Armour: - Main Belt: - Turrets: - Upper deck: - Armour deck: - Protected length: - Citadel Sections: - Armour's weight:	320 mm 130-360 mm 50-80 mm 80-120 mm 70 % 17/22 19,082 mt	327 mm 170-430 mm 24 mm 150-170 + 40 mm 54 % 10/21 16,400 mt	350 mm 130-380 mm 45 mm 112 mm 55 % 8/18 13,545 mt	305 mm 178-406 mm 37 mm 104 + 36 mm 60 % 9/18? 15,087 mt
Armament: - Main: - Secondary: - Anti-aircraft:	8 x 380 mm L/52 12 x 150 mm L/55 16 x 105 mm 16 x 37 mm 18 x 20 mm	8 x 380 mm L/45 9 x 152 mm L/55 12 x 100 mm 12 x 37 mm 32 x 13.2 mm	9 x 381 mm L/50 12 x 152 mm L/55 12 x 90 mm 20 x 37 mm 20 x 20 mm	9 x 406 mm L/45 - 20 x 127 mm L/38 16 x 28 mm 12 x 12.7 mm
Aircraft:	4 x Arado Ar 196	3 x Loire 130	2-3 Romeo Ro 43	2 x Kingfisher
Machinery:	12 boilers 3 sets of turbines 150,170 hp	6 boilers 4 sets of turbines 179,000 hp	8 boilers 4 sets of turbines 140,000 hp	8 boilers 4 sets of turbines 122,000 hp
Top Speed:	30 knots	32.6 knots	30 knots	28 knots
Endurance:	8,525 nm at 19 knots	9,500 nm at 15 knots	4,584 nm at 16 knots	17,450 nm at 15 knots
Fuel capacity:	7,900 mt	6,000 mt	4,000 mt	6,300 mt
Crew:	2,200+	approx 1,600	1,920	2,300

Ship:	Tirpitz (1944)	*Yamato*	*Iowa*	*Vanguard*
Laid down:	2 November 1936	4 November 1937	27 June 1940	2 October 1941
Launched:	1 April 1939	8 August 1940	27 August 1942	30 November 1944
Commissioned:	25 February 1941	16 December 1941	23 February 1943	9 August 1946
Displacement: - Standard: - Full load:	43,978 mt 51,700 mt	64,000 mt 72,800 mt	48,110 mt 57,500 mt	46,200 mt 51,400 mt
Dimensions: - Length overall: - Beam: - Maximum draft:	250.5 m 36 m 10.61 m	263 m 37 m 10.86 m	270.4 m 32.9 m 11.3 m	249 m 32.8 m 10.5 m
Armour: - Main Belt: - Turrets: - Upper deck: - Armour deck: - Protected length: - Citadel Sections: - Armour's weight:	320 mm 130-360 mm 50-80 mm 80-120 mm 70 % 17/22 19,082 mt	410 mm 270-650 mm - 200-230 mm 60 % ? 21,200 mt	307 mm 185-432 mm 38 mm 121 + 32 mm 60 % ? 18,700 mt	349 mm 152-330 mm - 127-152 mm 58 % ? ? mt
Armament: - Main: - Secondary: - Anti-aircraft:	8 x 380 mm L/52 12 x 150 mm L/55 16 x 105 mm 16 x 37 mm 78 x 20 mm	9 x 459 mm L/45 12 x 155 mm L/60 12 x 127 mm 24 x 25 mm 4 x 13.2 mm	9 x 406 mm L/50 20 x 127 mm L/38 80 x 40 mm 49 x 20 mm -	8 x 381 mm L/42 16 x 133 mm L/50 73 x 40 mm - -
Aircraft:	4 x Arado Ar 196	7 x Mitsubishi F1M	2-3 Kingfisher	-
Machinery:	12 boilers 3 sets of turbines 163,024 hp	12 boilers 4 sets of turbines 153,000 hp	8 boilers 4 sets of turbines 212,000 hp	8 boilers 4 sets of turbines 130,000 hp
Top Speed:	30-31 knots	27-28 knots	33 knots	30 knots
Endurance:	8,870 nm at 19 knots	7,200 nm at 16 knots	18,000 nm at 12 knots	9,000 nm at 20 knots
Fuel capacity:	7,780 mt	6,300 mt	7,600 mt	7,000 mt
Crew:	2,600	3,300	2,700	2,000+