USS Washington BB56 and HMS King George V Comparison

HMS King George V	USS Washington BB56

In April through July 1942, The USS Washington Served with British Home Fleet as Flagship Task Force 39, escorting convoys to Murmansk and Archangel Russia. When the Washington (North Carolina Class) was being designed, She was to be built comparable to the British ship built a few years earlier, HMS King George. Below is a comparison of the two ships. Shipmates: If you have additional information or articles on the Washington Atlantic duty, Please contact Howard.

USS Washington BB56 vs. HMS King George V

Design Date	Washington	King George V
Standard displacement	35,000 (35,562)	35,490 (36,060)
Full-load displacement	42,330 (43,009)	40,530 (41,231)
Waterline length	714' (217.627)	740' (227.1)
Waterline beam	104'3" (31.776)	103' (31.3)
Draft	31.6 (10.973)	31.6 (10.973)
Shaft horsepower	115,000 (116,595)	100,000 (101,387)
Maximum speed	27.5 knots	27.5 knots
Endurance	17,850 miles at 15 knots	14,000 miles at 10 knots
Armament	Twelve 14"/50 quadruple Twenty 5"/38 paired Sixteen 1.1" quadruple See Special Note Below	Ten 14"/45 (2) quadruple (1) twin Sixteen 5.25"/50 paired Thirty-two 2 pdr pom-pom quadruple
Main side belt	12.0" sloped 15 deg. (305)	14.71" (372)-vert.-mags 13.73" (348)-vert.-machry
Turret face plates	16.0" (406mm)	12.75 (324)
Turret tops	7.8" (198 mm)	5.88 (149)
Barbettes	15.0 (381 mm)	12.75 (324)
Protective decks: Magazines Machinery	6.3 (160 mm) 5.3 (135 mm)	5.88 (149) 4.90" (124)
Immunity zone versus USN 16"/45 firing 2,240-lb. AP shell	21,000-26,000 yards (19,205-23,778 m)	25,000-28,000 yards (22,360-25,603 m) (amidships) 23,000-31,000 yards (21,034-28,351) (main-battery magazine)

Of special note is the main armament of the Washington/ North Carolina. They were designed to carry 12 - 14" (50 caliber) rifles in three quadruple turrets. This was a new, unproven design and the armament was changed to the 9 - 16" (45 caliber) rifles in three triple turrets. The change was made when the Japanese failed to sign the 1936 London Naval Treaty. The main armament change was made in November 1937 after the keel of the North Carolina had been laid. The United States had expected the Japanese not to ratify the treaty so the quadruple 14" and the triple 16" turrets had been deliberately designed to be almost the same size and weight. Only minor alterations to barbette structures and turret fittings were required deliberate design compromises had been accepted and the barbette diameters and foundations were compatible for either gun design. The Navy did good on this one as future events in WW2 would show.

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