OK - presume US-UK conflict. Who wins the following in 1940:
USS Arizona, USS California, USS Arkansas and USS Maryland vs HMS Warspite, HMS Nelson, HMS Royal Oak and HMS Renown. Presume no airpower. However, do take into account normal escorts.
What about this in 1942: USS North Carolina and USS Washington vs. HMS King George V and HMS Anson.
Thanks.
Mike Turcotte
Both matchups favor the Americans to some degree, the first probably more so than the second, assuming simple meeting engagements.
One
(I'm pretending
Royal Oak is still afloat in her condition as of the night before Prien put her on the bottom in '39.)
Maryland is a rough match for
Nelson. (
Maryland probably has an edge because most of the Royal Navy's BBs and BCs were rather decrepit in 1940, including
Nelson).
California is clearly superior to
Warspite, although
Warspite was recently and throughly rebuilt and so doesn't have
Nelson and
Royal Oak's issues in that regard.
Arizona is clearly superior to
Royal Oak, and in considerably better condition.
Arkansas is the weakest ship present.
Repulse is probably somewhat more effective than
Royal Oak due to her recent rebuild, but still not even with
Arizona.
The United States squadron is actually marginally faster (!) because both fleets are limited to the speed of their slowest ship and
Royal Oak could likely no longer make even the designed 21 knots in 1940. I suppose the British could divide into a fast group of
Warspite and
Renown and a slow group of
Nelson and
Royal Oak but dividing forces in face of an equal enemy seems like a poor tactical decision. The USN is also more maneuverable, with the tight turn radius of the standards (unless
Arkansas drags that down? I think she's in line with it but don't know her all that well).
The United States squadron is, save
Arkansas, much better protected against torpedoes, although I'm not sure how much that matters.
Overall throw weight weakly favors the British, due to the presence of the small and really old
Arkansas, but the American line is far better protected against shellfire with their "all-or-nothing" armor on all save
Arkansas vs. only
Nelson with that level of protection for the Royal Navy.
Crew quality and commander quality are big variables, and luck bigger still. However, the Americans do have a clear material edge.
The battle likely ends with the British retiring after getting the slightly-to-somewhat worse end of a shootout, with neither side losing more than one ship at worst, with minor to severe damage to the others.
Two
Similar to the first, this is a slight American edge. The British have much fewer problems with the condition of their ships this time around, and the American edge in protection is less pronounced, but it is still there and the Americans also have a firepower edge. Speed is roughly equivalent. American ships by late 1942 started having the killer radar fire control sets - the USN is a relatively heavy favorite in a night fight for this reason later in the year, less so earlier or by day. Everything earlier said about crew, command, and luck applies.
Overall, slight edge to the Americans under most circumstances, and either side would have to be pretty lucky to sink an enemy battleship before action is broken off.