Q&A · 32:37-33:11

Which battleships might survive a Fritz X hit?

Warspite's survival does not produce a universal rule because the outcome depends heavily on the point of impact and the ship's protection.

Question

Which other battleships might have survived the kind of Fritz X attack that hit Warspite?

Short answer

Possibly Nelson, Rodney or some Iowa-class ships, but survival would depend greatly on where the weapon struck.

Notes

Warspite provides the demonstrated case of a battleship surviving a Fritz X attack. Nelson or Rodney might also endure a hit, although with severe damage, and some Iowa-class outcomes could be survivable as well. Much depends on the location of the strike, since the same weapon can produce very different flooding, machinery and magazine consequences. Armour and structural strength change the probabilities rather than guarantee survival.