Q&A · 2:30:33-2:30:38

Could 11-inch shells penetrate Renown?

A brief gunnery question adds an important qualification to the Force H counterfactual: Renown was vulnerable to German 11-inch fire at sufficiently close range.

11-inch Guns Battlecruisers HMS Renown Naval Armour

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Question

Would 11-inch shells penetrate HMS Renown's armour?

Short answer

At sufficiently close range, yes.

Notes

The answer is yes, provided the range was close enough. That qualification ties armour penetration to the geometry and conditions of an engagement rather than treating every hit as identical. Renown's advantage in 15-inch gun power did not make her armour immune to German return fire. Even a tactically favourable interception would expose the British battlecruiser to serious danger.