Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:46:56-2:47:23

What a 15-inch near miss does to different warships

A 15-inch shell landing nearby can seriously damage a destroyer and violently shake a cruiser, while a battleship is expected to keep fighting unless actually hit.

BattleshipsDamage ControlDestroyersNaval Gunnery
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Question

How close can a 15-inch shell land without hitting and still be dangerous?

Short answer

Close is dangerous for a destroyer, disturbing for a cruiser, and usually survivable for a battleship.

Notes

The effect of a near miss depends on the target's size and structural margin. A destroyer can suffer serious blast and underwater-shock damage from a 15-inch shell landing close alongside. A cruiser is more resilient but still faces a severe shock event that can damage equipment and personnel. A battleship has enough mass, subdivision, and protection to continue unless the shell actually strikes or the near miss causes an unusually damaging underwater effect.