Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 26:03-26:23

Could destroyer guns penetrate a pre-dreadnought?

Penetration depends on the particular pre-dreadnought and whether the shell hits an armored or unprotected part of its hull.

Armour SchemesDestroyersNaval GunneryPre-DreadnoughtsWarship Armour
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Question

Could a Second World War destroyer gun penetrate a pre-dreadnought's hull?

Short answer

Possibly, but only in vulnerable areas; the result depends on the ship's armor scheme and the point of impact.

Notes

Pre-dreadnought protection varied too widely for a single yes-or-no answer. Some ships concentrated armor in a pattern that approached the logic of later all-or-nothing schemes. A destroyer shell might damage lightly protected portions while failing against the main armor belt or citadel. The decisive variables are therefore the exact ship, range, impact conditions, and location of the hit.