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Inspired by a recente thread on Dreadnough vs Pre Dreadnought one on one fights that died too quickly, I took a look at specs for the Danton vs Nassau Classes and I think the Danton would have have the upper hand in a one vs one engament.
The crucial element is designed elevation. The Dantons (And I'm using data from the very reliable http://www.navweaps.com/ site) could have been conceptually obsolete, but their turrets allowed proper elevation and gave their guns excelent range. The 12'' could fire up to 26.300m, and the 9.4'' up to 23.800m
The Nassaus, on the other hand, having been designed for line of battle work, were given very limited elevation, and in 1914 their 11'' could only fire up to 18.900, a situation that was sligthly improved in 1915 but only up to 20.400.
And the German ship lacks any useful speed advantage, being capable only of 19,5 vs 19.25 knots.
So let's imagine that a Nassau class BB, having been out in the Med on a good will tour on a Goeben style situation, is intercepted by a Danton class BB on a clear weather day in 1914.
The French vessel can open up at maximun range, and has a full 7.400 meters of range safety advantage. Ideally it can try and keep the action in the 20 to 22 km range, staying out of german range until it hits the German BB with both 12'' and plunging 9.4'' shells.
I think the French "obsolete" vessel would have a clear advantage over the more "modern" german one...
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