HMS Vanguard VS USS New Jersey

As mentioned in other comments below, HMS Vanguard was designed to use supercharges. These guns were also capable of firing the same projectiles while using these supercharges which gave a maximum range of 37,870 yards (34,630 m) i.e. over 21 miles. Regarding saving a battleship as a museum ship, I would have preferred to save HMS Warspite as that had our best battleship history and HMS Vanguard never fired its guns in anger, not even in the Korean war as also mentioned below. Great review, thanks

It always brings a smile to my face when I hear of a warship breaking loose on the way to the scrappers. As if to say, not without a fight mate!

As a five year old my father took me to see her aground outside the Still and West pub at The Point in Portsmouth Harbour. Gutted and sitting high in the water on her way to the breakers yard, she looked utterly enormous to my child's eyes.

Vanguard’s 40mm AA gun system was pretty cool: There were 6 autoloading barrels per mount and each mount had its own local radar director. They were serious about AA after the disaster of Repulse and Prince of Wales, although the former dodged (or “combed”) about 12 aerial torpedoes, which was a magnificent display of ship handling.

My father took us on board HMS Vanguard as she was being stripped in Portsmouth Harbour. We had just been on board HMS Victory. My dad saw a hole in the fence next to the dock. So in we went. It was not long before we were spotted. The duty officer challenged us so My dad got out his WW2 RNVR documents that he carried all the time. So we were honored and taken to the forehead under the 15 inch turrets. Then we went up top to the bridge to gaze forward. It was the most amazing visit ever as a young boy and we were so proud of my dad, who served all the days of WW2. True story promise.

It's a shame that the British never saved the HMS Vanguard, it's so wonderful that all for Iowa's in the class were saved and are still with us..😊

Great video, thanks for taking the time to produce. My dad served on HMS Repulse and was on board when it was sunk in December 1941. Battleships and battlecruisers were magnificent feats of engineering but emerging technology (such as guided missiles) made them obsolete in modern times.

It is hard to deny the Iowa class 16" guns were some of the best and most powerful every built. Posters keep mentioning the 15" supercharge. By most accounts, the supercharge was developed for older 15" gun British warships that did not have their gun mount elevation increased during refit. The supercharge was intended to increase range on older ships as an emergency measure, not to increase firepower. It was very hard on the guns, and according to most sources, supercharging was not used on new/refitted ships like Renown, Vanguard, or the Queen Elizabeth's. Vanguard overall is one of the best battleships to be built, and one of the best looking. While the 15" was not the most powerful gun in service by WW II, it was rugged, reliable, and accurate. In other words, well proven and superbly battle worthy. Some have called it the finest heavy battleship gun built by the Royal Navy. It makes some claim to being one of the best of all time, despite not being the most powerful.

Great video! If nothing else HMS Vanguard was with a doubt one of the most beautiful battleships ever made.

Thank you for this video. I grew up in a home behind Portsmouth Harbour and saw Vanguard in the distance many times. We children cried our eyes out when she was sent for scrap, and many former sailors had an unexpected need for a handkerchief.

Thanks for this. It's a sin my country never had the for sight to preserve this beautiful ship as you guys have done!

Some have said when Vanguard broke free, it was an act of defiance to escape her fate. Rather sad really

Great video, just to add a few points. The reason the Royal Navy steered away from armoured conning towers was because in practice it was found the crew would often use the secondary 'open' bridge in combat to gain better visibility. This is also reflected in the conning towers of the KGVs, Nelson/Rodney and the refits of Warspite, Queen Elizabeth, Valiant and Renown. It was just dead weight so the armour was cut back. As for her main battery, many place too emphasis on the fact the guns were of WW1 vintage and didn't cut it in WW2. The reality is with super charges (David K Brown's book Nelson to Vanguard states the work was carried out to fire at 30 degrees elevation with super charges but were never issued because the war was over) Vanguard had a theoretical range of over 35,000 yards, but as you point out the chances of hitting at that range is doubtful even for modern battleships like Vanguard or Iowa. The 15 inch shell was still capable of penetrating any armour of any ship at 'realistic' engagement ranges. Her fire control was second only to Iowa and she would of been a formidable oppenent to even the Yamato in poor visibility/weather and at night.

Fun fact one of the 15” guns from the legend herself, HMS Warspite, was put aboard Vanguard. Sadly when she was scrapped, they scrapped the gun and the rest of them too. I personally think at least one of Vanguard’s guns should have been on display in front of IWM, instead of HMS Resolution’s.

Her turrets were from Courageous and Glorious, the guns were from the stocks of 15 inch guns, some of which had been mounted in other ships, the Royal navy had extra gun barrels,so that guns could be taken out in refits and overhauled,being replaced by barrels from reserve stocks. These weapons were then overhauled and fitted to other ships as required.Also, Vanguard was intended to reinforce the far eastern fleet, originally, however , the need for escorts took priority for obvious reasons. The desire for a battleship with all the lessons of the second world war was the main reason she was continued and completed. Problem was, she was a ship without a war to fight in an era when the battleships time had passed.

I know Vanguard didn't fight in WW2, but come on UK... you could have saved this ship. Last British battleship ever build, low mileage, no battle damage, etc.

I am sad that the UK didn't turn the Warspite and the Vanguard into museum ships. The UK might have been strapped for cash at the time, but you can mothball a ship for a long time, until you have the cash.

The RN 15" shell had a 50% larger bursting charge than the USN 16" super heavy shell. IIRC the USN estimated less than 3% chance of hits on a non-manoeuvring battleship sized target at maximum range of the 16" 45.

"...if they were in the right place..." Halsey throws a hissy-fit. Lee throws his ships into position.

Quite fair and measured analysis that makes clear that Royal Navy battleships were based on a lot of battle and sea experience across the totality of two world wars, and it is far from clear cut that the Iowa’s were superior. Therefore issues such as crew training, experience and the nature of how any meeting took place would likely be the decisive factors. Thank God the RoyaL Navy since 1815 has not had to fight the US Navy and it’s incredible resources which would always be decisive and that USA and Uk remain the closest of friends and allies.