How close would Scharnhorst and Gneisenau need to be to penetrate Ramillies's belt armor?
Short answerPossibly around 18,000 yards, but closing that far would expose them to Ramillies's decisive 15-inch-gun fire.
NotesThe Scharnhorst class carried powerful 11-inch guns, yet Ramillies combined substantial armor with a heavier eight-gun 15-inch broadside than both German ships' broadsides by weight. Published penetration estimates imply the Germans could threaten her at closer range. That same range, however, placed them inside the zone British crews trained to use for decisive killing fire. The penetration question cannot be separated from the tactical cost of remaining under Ramillies's return fire.