Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:27:50-1:28:56

South Dakota versus Richelieu as treaty battleships

South Dakota is preferred overall, although Richelieu's eight forward 15-inch guns give her an advantage in a bow-on engagement.

French NavyNaval GunneryRichelieu Class BattleshipsSouth Dakota Class Battleships (1939)Treaty BattleshipsUS Navy
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Question

Which was the better treaty battleship, Richelieu or South Dakota?

Short answer

South Dakota overall, though Richelieu has more heavy guns bearing directly forward in a bow-on fight.

Notes

The comparison separates a narrow tactical geometry from the broader choice of ship. Richelieu can bring eight 15-inch guns to bear directly ahead, while South Dakota has six of her nine 16-inch guns firing forward. That gives the French design an edge in a purely bow-on exchange. For overall fighting value and the preferred ship to serve in, however, South Dakota wins decisively.