Knowledge

Was the Battleship Yamato really that big compared to other WW2 battleships?

It was absolutely huge.

The USS Texas that served in Both world wars was 532 feet long and 27,000 tons.

The USS South Dakota and North Carolina classes built pre-war to treaty limits were 35,000 tons. The USS Iowa class built at the beginning of the war and entering service late in the war after the lapse of the treaties was 45,000–52,000 ton empty, or 57,000 tons loaded and 880 feet long.

The Yamato class including the sister ship Musashi completed just after Pearl Harbor were 65,000 tons empty, 72,000 ton Behemoths when fully loaded.

The US had a 62,000 ton battleship design ready in 1942 that was never started. It was wisely delayed days after Midway and the purchase of more carriers expedited.

Here are same scale side by side comparisons of the (L-R) KMS Bismarck, USS Iowa, IJN Yamato classes. While the Iowas were longer the Yamatos were much more massive displacement.


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