This list of broadsides of major World War II ships ranks the total weight of projectiles that can be delivered in single broadsides by major vessels in service during World War II. Listed are the broadsides in pounds and kilograms (for a single main battery salvo), as well as the range to which it can be fired in yards and kilometres and the maximum rate of fire in salvos per minute.
Items are listed in order of broadside weight.
| Country | Vessel | No. built | Main gun: number and caliber | Maximum range | Maximum rate of fire (/min) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (yd) | (km) | |||||||
| Japan | 2 | 9 × 46cm (18inches) 45 cal Type 94 | 28971lb | 45,960 | 42.0 | 2 | ||
| USA | 4 | 9 × 16" 50 cal Mark 7 | 24300lb | 38,700 | 38.7 | 2 | ||
| USA | 2 | 9 × 16" 45 cal Mark 6 | 24300lb | 33,741 | 33.7 | 2 | ||
| USA | South Dakota-class battleship | 4 | 9 × 16" 45 cal Mark 6 | 24300lb | 33,741 | 33.7 | 2 | |
| UK | 2 | 9 × BL 16-inch Mk I | 18432lb | 39,780 | 36.4 | 2 | ||
| USA | 2 | 12 × 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11 | 18000lb | 36,300 | 33.2 | 2 | ||
| USA | 3 | 12 × 14" 50 cal Marks 7 & 11 | 18000lb | 36,300 | 33.2 | 2 | ||
| USA | 2 | 12 × 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12 | 18000lb | 36,000 | 33.0 | 2 | ||
| Japan | 2 | 8 × 16" 45 cal 3rd Year Type | 17992lb | 42,000 | 38.4 | 2 | ||
| USA | 3 | 8 × 16" 45 cal Mark 5 | 17920lb | 35,000 | 32.0 | 2 | ||
| Japan | 2 | 12 × 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type | 17820lb | 38,770 | 35.5 | 2 | ||
| Japan | 2 | 12 × 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type | 17820lb | 38,770 | 35.5 | 2 | ||
| Italy | 3 | 9 × 15" 50 cal Ansaldo 1934 | 17559lb | 46,216 | 42.3 | 1.3 | ||
| UK | King George V-class battleship | 5 | 10 × BL 14-inch Mk VII | 15900lb | 38,560 | 35.3 | 2 | |
| Chile | Battleship Almirante Latorre | 1 | 10 × EOC 14 inch/45 naval gun | 15860lb | 24,400 | 22.31 | 2 | |
| France | 2 | 8 × 15" 45 cal Modèle 1935 | 15592lb | 45,600 | 41.7 | 2 | ||
| UK | 5 | 8 × BL 15-inch Mk I | 15504lb | 33,550 | 30.7 | 2 | ||
| UK | 5 | 8 × BL 15-inch Mk I | 15504lb | 33,550 | 30.7 | 2 | ||
| UK | Battlecruiser HMS Hood | 1 | 8 × BL 15-inch Mk I | 15360lb | 30,180 | 27.6 | 2 | |
| USA | 2 | 10 × 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12 | 15000lb | 36,000 | 33.0 | 2 | ||
| USA | 2 | 10 × 14" 45 cal Marks 8, 9, 10 & 12 | 15000lb | 23,000 | 21.0 | 2 | ||
| Germany | 2 | 8 × 15" 52 cal SK C/34 | 14112lb | 38,880 | 35.6 | 2.5 | ||
| France | 3 | 10 × 13.4" 45 cal M1912 | 12680lb | 29,090 | 26.6 | 2 | ||
| USSR | 4 | 12 × 12" 52 cal P1907 | 12456lb | 32,080 | 29.3 | 2-3 | ||
| Japan | 4 | 8 × 14" 45 cal 41st Year Type | 11880lb | 38,770 | 35.5 | 2 | ||
| UK | 2 | 6 × BL 15-inch Mk I | 11628lb | 33,550 | 30.7 | 2 | ||
| Italy | 2 | 10 × 12.6" 44 cal M1936 | 11570lb | 31,280 | 28.6 | 2 | ||
| Italy | 2 | 10 × 12.6" 44 cal M1934 | 11570lb | 31,280 | 28.6 | 2 | ||
| France | 2 | 12 × 12" 45 cal M1910 | 11424lb | 25,150 | 23.0 | 2 | ||
| Argentina | 2 | 12 × 12" 50 cal Bethlehem | 10440lb | 24,000 | 22.0 | 2-3 | ||
| USA | Battleship | 1 | 12 × 12" 50 cal Mark 7 | 10440lb | 24,000 | 22.0 | 3 | |
| USA | 2 | 9 × 12" 50 cal Mark 8 | 10260lb | 38,573 | 35.3 | 3 | ||
| France | 2 | 8 × 13" 50 cal M1931 | 9880lb | 45,600 | 41.7 | 2 | ||
| Brazil | 2 | 10 (of 12) × 12" 45 cal EOC | 8500lb | 18,850 | 17.2 | 3 | ||
| Turkey | 1 | 10 × 11.1" 50 cal SK | 6660lb | 23,730 | 21.7 | 3 | ||
| Germany | 2 | 9 × 11.1" 54.5 cal SK C/34 | 6552lb | 44,760 | 40.9 | 3 | ||
| Germany | 3 | 6 × 11.1" 52 cal SK C/28 | 3966lb | 39,890 | 36.5 | 2 | ||
| UK | 2 | 2 × BL 15-inch Mk I | 3840lb | 32,500 | 29.7 | 2 | ||
| UK | 2 | 2 × BL 15-inch Mk I | 3840lb | 32,500 | 29.7 | 2 | ||
| USA | 5 of 7 s | 5 | 9 × 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15 | 3015lb | 30,050 | 27.5 | 4 | |
| USA | 12 | 9 × 8" 55 cal Marks 12 & 15 | 3015lb | 30,050 | 27.5 | 4 | ||
| Japan | 4 | 10 × 8" 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 2770lb | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 | ||
| Japan | 4 | 10 × 8" 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 2770lb | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 | ||
| Japan | 4 | 10 × 8" 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 2770lb | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 | ||
| USA | 2 | 10 × 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14 | 2600lb | 31,860 | 29.1 | 4 | ||
| Germany | Battleship Schlesien | 2 | 4 × 11.1" 28 cm SK L/40 | 2504lb | 28,040 | 25.6 | 2 | |
| France | 7 | 8 × 8" 203mm/50 Modèle 1924 | 2360lb | 34,340 | 31.4 | 5 | ||
| France | 2 | 8 × 8" 155 mm Modèle 1920 | 2360lb | 34,340 | 31.4 | 5 | ||
| USA | 2 of 7 New Orleans-class cruisers | 2 | 9 × 8" 55 cal Marks 9 & 14 | 2340lb | 31,860 | 29.1 | 4 | |
| Greece | Cruiser Georgios Averof | 1 | 4 × 9.2" 45 cal Mk X + 8 × 7.5" Cannone da 190/45 | 2320lb | ||||
| Japan | 2 | 8 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 2216lb | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 | ||
| Italy | 4 | 8 × 8" 203 mm /53 Ansaldo M1927 | 2210lb | 34,520 | 31.6 | 4 | ||
| Italy | Cruiser Bolzano | 1 | 8 × 8" 203 mm /53 Ansaldo M1929 | 2210lb | 34,520 | 31.6 | 4 | |
| Germany | 4 | 8 × 8" 20.3 cm SK C/34 | 2152lb | 36,680 | 33.5 | 5 | ||
| Italy | s | 2 | 8 × 8" 203 mm /50 Model 1924 | 2080lb | 30,620 | 28.0 | 1.5 | |
| UK | 13 | 8 × BL 8-inch Mk VIII | 2048lb | 30,650 | 28.0 | 5 | ||
| Italy | data-sort-value="San Giorgio" | 1 | 4 × 10" 45 cal Model 1908 | 2000lb | 27,300 | 25.0 | 3 | |
| Finland | Väinämöinen-class coastal defense ship | 2 | 4 × 10" | 1984lb | 33,140 | 30.3 | 3 | |
| USA | 7 | 15 × 6" 47 cal Mark 16 | 1950lb | 26,118 | 23.9 | 8 | ||
| USSR | 6 | 9 × 7.1" 180mm/57 B-1-P Pattern 1932 | 1935lb | 41,000 | 37.5 | 6 | ||
| Japan | 2 | 6 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 1662lb | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 | ||
| Japan | 2 | 6 × 8" 50 cal 3rd Year Type GÔ2 | 1662lb | 32,150 | 29.4 | 4 | ||
| USA | 27 | 12 × 6" 47 cal Mark 16 | 1560lb | 26,118 | 23.9 | 8 | ||
| UK | 2 | 6 × BL 8-inch Mk VIII | 1536lb | 30,650 | 27.9 | 5 | ||
| Japan | 2 | 1 × EOC BL 10-inch + 2 × 8" 20.3 cm/45 Type 41 + 4 × 6" | 1400lb | 19,700 | 18.0 | 3 | ||
| UK | Town-class cruiser | 10 | 12 × BL 6-inch Mk XXIII | 1344lb | 25,480 | 23.3 | 6 | |
| UK | 11 | 12 × BL 6-inch Mk XXIII | 1344lb | 25,400 | 23.2 | 6 | ||
| Argentina | 2 | 6 × 7.5" 52 cal | 1200lb | 29,855 | 27.3 | |||
| Denmark | Herluf Trolle-class coastal defence ship | 1 | 2 × 9.4" + 4 × 5.9" | 1154lb | ||||
| Italy | Abruzzi subclass of s | 2 | 10 × 6" 152 mm /55 M1934, M1936 | 1102lb | 28,150 | 25.7 | 4 | |
| France | 10 | 9 × 152mm 55 cal | 1071lb | 28,952 | 26.5 | 8 | ||
| Netherlands | 2 | 10 × 5.9" 50 cal | 1030lb | 23,200 | 21.2 | |||
| Denmark | data-sort-value="Niels Juel" | Coast defense ship Niels Juel | 1 | 10 × 5.9" | 1010lb | |||
| Argentina | Independencia-class coastal defense ship | 2 | 2 × 9.4" 40 cal | 1000lb | ||||
| France | 3 | 8 × 155mm 50 cal | 1000lb | 28,540 | 26.1 | 4 | ||
| Japan | 2 | 4 × 203mm 45 cal | 1000lb | 19,700 | 18.0 | 5 | ||
| Japan | data-sort-value="Yakumo" | Cruiser Yakumo (training duties only during WWII) | 1 | 4 × 8" 45 cal | 1000lb | 19,700 | 18.0 | 5 |
| Japan | data-sort-value="Azuma" | Cruiser Azuma (training duties only during WWII) | 1 | 4 × 8" 45 cal | 1000lb | 19,700 | 18.0 | 5 |
| Argentina | data-sort-value="La Argentina" | 1 | 9 × 6" 50 cal | 900lb | 25,700 | 23.5 | ||
| Germany | Königsberg-class cruiser | 3 | 9 × 149.1mm C/25 | 900lb | 28,100 | 25.7 | 8 | |
| Germany | 2 | 9 × 5.9" 15 cm SK C/25 | 900lb | 28,100 | 25.7 | 8 | ||
| Australia | data-sort-value="Adelaide" | Light cruiser HMAS Adelaide | 1 | 9 × 6-inch Mk XII | 900lb | 21,500 | 19.6 | 5-7 |
| UK | Leander-class cruiser | 8 | 8 × 6-inch Mk XXIII | 896lb | 25,480 | 23.3 | 6 | |
| USSR | data-sort-value="Krasny" | Cruiser Krasny Kavkaz | 1 | 4 × 7.1" 57 cal | 860lb | 41,000 | 37.5 | 6 |
| USA | 10 | 4 × 6" 53 cal Mark 16 & 3 × 6" 53 cal Mark 13 (per side) | 840lb | 25,300 Mark 16 | 23.1 Mark 16 | 5 | ||
| Italy | 3 of 4 subclasses of s | 10 | 8 × 6" 152 mm /53 M1926 or M1929 | 838lb | 24,716 | 22.6 | 4 (M1926) 8 (M1929) | |
| Japan | 3 | 8 × 6" 45 cal | 800lb | 16,185 | 14.8 | |||
| UK | 11 | 10 × QF 5.25-inch Mk I | 800lb | 24,070 | 22.0 | 7 | ||
| USA | s (first group) | 4 | 14 (of 16) × 5" 38 cal Mark 12 | 773lb | 17,392 | 15.9 | 15 - 22 | |
| Japan | data-sort-value="Oyodo" | Cruiser Ōyodo | 1 | 6 × 6.1" 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type | 738lb | 29,960 | 27.4 | 5 |
| Netherlands | data-sort-value="De Ruyter" | Cruiser De Ruyter | 1 | 7 × 5.9" 50 cal | 721lb | 23,200 | 21.2 | |
| Argentina | data-sort-value="General" | 2 | 2 × 10" 35 cal | 706lb | ||||
| UK | 2 | 7 × BL 6-inch Mark VII | 700lb | 18,750 | 17.1 | 5 | ||
| UK | Arethusa-class cruiser | 4 | 6 × BL 6-inch Mk XXIII | 672lb | 25,480 | 23.3 | 6 | |
| USA | Oakland sub-class of s | 4 | 12 × 5" 38 cal Mark 12 | 662lb | 17,392 | 15.9 | 15 - 22 | |
| USSR | data-sort-value="Krasni" | Cruiser Krasni Krym | 2 | 8 (of 15) × 5.1" 55 cal | 648lb | 20,690 | 19.2 | 6 |
| Norway | data-sort-value="Harald" | Coast defense ship Harald Haarfagre | 4 | 2 × 8.2" | 626lb | |||
| Netherlands | data-sort-value="Tromp" | Cruiser Tromp | 2 | 6 × 5.9" 50 cal | 618lb | 23,200 | 21.2 | |
| Germany | data-sort-value="Emden" | Cruiser Emden | 1 | 8 × 150mm 45 cal | 600lb | 18,370 | 16.8 | |
| Japan | 4 | 6 × 150mm 50 cal | 600lb | 22,970 | 21.0 | 8 | ||
| UK | 8 | 6 × BL 6-inch Mk XII | 600lb | 21,500 | 19.6 | 5-7 | ||
| Italy | 3 | 8 × 5.3" 45 cal M1938 | 577lb | 21,435 | 19.6 | 6 | ||
| Japan | data-sort-value="Yubari" | Cruiser Yūbari | 1 | 6 × 5.5" 50 cal | 500lb | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 |
| Japan | 3 | 6 × 5.5" 50 cal | 500lb | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 | ||
| Japan | 6 | 6 × 5.5" 50 cal | 500lb | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 | ||
| Japan | 5 | 6 × 5.5" 50 cal | 500lb | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 | ||
| Japan | data-sort-value="Nisshin" | Seaplane carrier Nisshin | 1 | 6 × 5.5" 50 cal | 500lb | 19,140 | 17.5 | 8 |
| UK | 4 | 5 × BL 6-inch Mk XII | 500lb | 21,500 | 19.6 | 5-7 | ||