Actual combat experience in WWII shows the importance of damage control during battle. Many US carriers suffered immense amounts of damage, yet survived thanks to superior damage control procedures and better trained crews.

One thing for sure, it would have been one hell of a battle.

One blatant thing you've missed . The IOWA had centimetric radar . The Yamato had " Graff Spee " 1939 german radar . Like a candle against a searchlight , and a fantastically accurate searchlight ! The American ship could throw up a smoke screen and , radar wise , accurately " see "and through it . It could totally stay hidden in the dark ...........

Yamato: Ho? You're approaching me? Instead of running away, you're coming right to me? Iowa: I can't beat the shit out of you without getting closer.

fun fact: later on in their lives the iowa class was given W23 nuclear shells, each shell contained a 15-20 kiloton warhead, imagine 9 nuclear bombs being fired at you.......

To my mind, the outcome of the battle would depend almost entirely on the actions of the Iowa's captain. The two most significant differences between Iowa & Yamato was that Iowa had a nearly 6 knot speed advantage and her gunnery systems. The speed advantage meant that the Iowa could choose whether to engage at all, when to do so and at what range. The Iowa's gunnery radar was capable of achieving complete blind fire meaning that they didn't have to establish any visual contact to fire. Yamato's radar was decent for range but couldn't resolve tightly enough to give a usable bearing to determine a firing solution. Something else that deserves mention is that Yamato's computers weren't as good as the Iowa's; the Yamato could either fire or actively maneuver but she couldn't do both. If she wanted to maneuver, she'd have to cease fire and if she wanted to fire, she'd have to drive at a constant course and speed. If the Iowa's captain was competent, my guess is that he'd maintain a range that would enable him to track Yamato but be outside of gunnery range until nightfall then engage from long range and gradually move in. This was the recommendation made by the captain of the Washington following the night battle of Guadalcanal based upon his observation that the Japanese weren't using radar like the US was. In this scenario, the Iowa could fire on Yamato while actively maneuvering, while the Yamato's ability to respond would be very limited. If she tried to fire, she'd be creating a very easy solution for Iowa and likely take heavy damage in the process. If she tried to maneuver, she couldn't return fire and would still likely take damage as Iowa's radar was so accurate that it could read shell splashes. All that said, I could easily see the battle ending with Yamato heavily damaged but not sunk and Iowa out of shells. But Yamato's only real chance to win, barring the Iowa's captain being dumb enough to try to fight a close range battle in daylight or taking an unlucky hit that would slow Iowa to the point that the Yamato could close, would be to simply try to ride out the bombardment and just hope their armor held.

Both ships would swiss-cheese each other above the waterline and limp away asking “why the hell did we just do this?”

The fact that the Iowa is even close to equal or better than Yamato even with smaller guns, less armor, and about 15,000 tons less weight, is a testament to the quality of Iowas manufacture and design and the skill of the sailors that manned her.

Finally Wargaming actually picks someone competent to make a warships video :) woo! Not like some of those other sponsored channels. Good job Binkov!

Fuck, I thought this was; The Warsaw Pact vs NATO (The Ground War). No? Am I the only one?

Iwoa vs Yamato FIGHT! Bismarck: Log out....

As a battleship 1980's sailor, I found your research and information to be very informative and intriguing. All bases especially night and rainy as well as crew experience was well researched. Radar seemed to be the key back then as for today it's all about distance.

Before watching I am going to place my bets on the Iowa. The Yamato relied on visual targeting, while the US had insane radar targeting systems.

Why not 1984 Iowa? Versus space battleship Yamato

From 1944 onward, US Navy radar-directed fire became frighteningly accurate. This became apparent in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. US forces were able to blast away with impunity against IJN forces. Only when IJN forces closed the distance dramatically could they compete, but by that time they were usually severely damaged with their ability to wage war compromised.

You are literally the only one to consider the fact that neither side could calculate the odds against them when in major engagements. I've tried arguing this but people wouldn't listen. TY.

TAKE THAT FLAT EARTHERS!!!

I want to see a REAL battle. Sealand verse the Vatican City, in a 1 v 1 battle

...But, what damage could one hit do? 4:03 DKM Bismarck: Hold my beer...

Dont forget the "luck" factor Just like Bismarck vs Hood on Denmark Strait, each admiral doing the right thing but unlucky for Hood.

Yamato is *THICC*

I think you had about the best assessment between these two battleships. Very well done. The only part I need to say is that I think even though the sailors were green in 1943, the knowledge of damage control techniques gained from the US Aircraft Carriers during the battles of 1942 would have influenced the Iowa's ability to fight off damage.

Then a freak hit renders all calculations and strategies academic. Just ask HMS Hood about that one... Or Bismarck, rendered uncontrollable by one lucky torpedo from an obsolete biplane...

I’m still waiting for a Space Battleship Iowa Anime

In a night fight, Iowa. In a daylight battle, Yamato.

Some very nice info on both ships here. Great work! I'd definitely go for Iowa's agility and better radar as the winner.

Yamato was so highly thought of by the IJN command she sat in port a great deal rather than being exposed to a random strike by a US submarine. So much time in port she was referred to as the "Hotel Yamato" by some in the IJN.

The problem with Yamato is that so often it’s underrated by people who don’t know what they’re talking about. There was a guy on Quora who said that Yamato would be hard-pressed to beat a pre-dreadnought… gimme a break. This vid is one of the most accurate ones out there. Thanks binkov for making a great and accurate video!

Iowa battleship fire systems were so good they were not replaced when reactivated in 1984

Brain - "Damn those are 2 sexy girls." Thanks Kancolle Collection

Both battleships when they see each other: Finally a worthy ship our naval battle will be legendary

In some situations it might have been a toss up. The Yamato was a formidable platform with the largest rifles ever place on a war ship. But I agree the Iowa Class Battleships had the advantage. In terms of Radar directed fire control, no question the Iowa class would have prevailed. Particularly at night, like the USS Washington (with the exact same armament as the Iowas) did over the IJN Kirishima in November 1942. Destroyed it at night in about 15 mins.

I've set foot all throughout USS Iowa, amazing thing.

Another amazing video, Binkov! Keep up the fantastic work! :D

Wow, that was thorough. I was in the Field Artillery and that I would get all this. I have to give it to all the swabbies out there doing this. Great job and much respect from an Arty guy.

This duel almost happened at the Battle of Letye Gulf. Had the US stationed TF34 at the San Benadeno Strait. The USS Iowa and 5 other fast battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 6 light cruisers and 18 destroyers would have been in position to confront the IJN Yamato and the 3 other battleships, 6 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 11 destroyers of the Central Force.

"Wargaming has released historically accurate ship" LMAO

The Iowa class lived on till 1990s, and with Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles that totally negate most of the arguments here. Impressive how they retro fit the ship, especially when visited in person (in Hawaii, the mighty Mo). But I like this video taking a pretty comprehensive view of all factors. Wargaming WoW has Yamato at Tier X vs Iowa at Tier IX, I believe it's because of the armor and the penetration power of the Yamato.

There are some extremely detailed info on Iowa class guns from the navy, I believe. Iowa had high velocity, penetrator armor piercing shells. Perhaps 5 types of shells. Special treatments to improve life of cannon tubes. Very interesting!

Do the classic Wargaming strategy: HE spam and light it on fire first.

Ohio national guard vs North Korea.

You really outdid yourself this time, even the sponsor really worked out for this video. Great stuff

I might put my bets on the USS Johnson.

Excellent analysis! Truly informative!

A great versus with my two favorite battleships of all time.

I took a tour of the USS New Jersey (Iowa class) once. Very cool ship

Wow this was a very good video, exceptionally informative and interestingly presented. Nice job, thanks for sharing

"Minor Victory" means that it could go the other way by human error or just pure luck. Seeing this battle would be a spectacle.

Awesome video as always binkov Lenin would be proud my commissar :-)

Excellent extrapolation of a theoretical situation. Bravo Comrade Binkov.. As a knowledgeable student of WW2 I am impressed. I could add a bit more to this scenario, but I digress. I hate to rhyme., sorry.

One of my new favorite military channels. Would love to see Binkov have a couple more muppet friends!

At extremely long ranges (like 32-36km), neither ship could penetrate the other's turrets, and most likely couldn't penetrate the belt armor on the sides to the hull either. But they most likely could smash through the deck armor, as it wasn't nearly as thick as the belt/turrets on either ship.

Yes !!!! Please do IJN CV tactics vs USN CV tactics !!!!

Let's remember two things: the prompt and unplaned disassembly of IJN Kirishima - courtesy of USS Washington. And the actions of Taffy 3, especially USS Johnston. - Iowa was able to run circles around Yamato and could jump from a rain school to another or just position herself in the setting sun and pound Yamato into oblivion by precise radar guided fire. Count in the superior american damage control.

One important factor here is that at the time the USA did not know the specifications of Yamato's armour, as he mentions the author is assuming that Iowa sits at the sweet spot, however if we look at WW2 battleship combat almost all fights occurred between 15,000 and 23,000 yards. Now that said the sensible option is to do what the USA actually did and not get close enough to Yamato's big guns and instead send overwhelming air power

The means/manner of death of IJN Musashi indicate that such a theoretical battle line confrontation could last (barring any "lucky" or unfortunate hits upon either) quite a long time. To me it's always been significant (and sad?) that neither the Yamato class or Iowa class played any decisive role in real WWII surface combat.

Ironically the Yamato was the most advanced battleship (at least in terms of armor and firepower) of a bygone era of naval warfare. Battleships (dreadnoughts) had not decided WW1 as many thought they would and they didn't decide WW2 in the Atlantic and Pacific. Yamato and Musashi never once engaged in the massive fleet battles they were built for and were sunk by carrier launched planes. Not that they played no role at all, but aircraft carriers had shown that they were much more versatile.

"both ships would be moving making them harder to hit" World of warships: I'm about to ruin this man's whole career

Fascinating to think about, of course the winner would change from one engagement to the next.

My father served on the Iowa from 1944 to 1945. He loved that ship and thought it could beat anything Japan had.

Kancolle Season 2

What about a theoretical battle between Yamato and the cancelled Montana Class Battleship?

Great video, enjoyed the animated graphic examples and comparative data. Had not heard of “World of Warships”, but after hearing your theories on battleship tactics, it sounds like fun. Thank you!

Excellent analysis worthy of a career at the pentagon.

結論:日本もアメリカも凄い

The air defense shells of Yamato damaged the gun so much that it would fail if used.

I was a guest of my neighbor's father (he was the ship Dentist, a Cmdr) in 1984 when Reagan had just visited the Iowa (BB61) in NY harbor. We travelled from NY to Norfolk where she was berthed. Iowa wasn't as big as my Dad's boat (Dad was XO of CVN-69, Eisenhower, which I also got the opportunity to spend 2 weeks out at sea in '79) but Iowa's blazing 16" guns were awesome to experience first-hand. I could feel the fire blast as it exited the barrels & the ship was moved about 30' sideway when they were all fired in unison. That was pretty fun & bad ass....I was 17 at the time in High School.

"a proper tactical simulation" - you made my day!

think I'll take Admiral Nelson's advice, "No Captain can do wrong by putting his ship next to the of the Enemy,"...or something to that effect🤗

Iowa would likely do significantly more critical damage with a superior fire control system that lasted into the 80s, far better armor fabrication methods, and superior shell/powder quality. She also enjoyed superior maneuverability. Both would probably survive the encounter. It is unlikely either could land the tremendous amount of hits required to sink the other.

I'd be interested in seeing Vanguard v Yamato (or for theory Iowa), especially at night or in heavy seas.

best analysis of this battle yet

What we have to keep in mind though is that a marginal victory either side is just a slightly more probability for that ship to win that scenario when repeated over say a hundred times. While the Iowa is more likely to hit, the Yamato is capable of hitting too, and should both ships get the range, suddenly the battle changes in favor of the Yamato due to armour/guns. All it takes however is a hit to a certain part of the ships and the probability changes again.

The Yamato anti-aircraft shells (beehive rounds) would damage the barrel of the gun when fired. They could get about 19 shells fired before the rifling of the gun would need to be repaired. Also during the early parts of the war. IJN sailors were excellent at fighting at night and the USN tended to be more cautious during that time.

The World of Warship commerical videos are everywhere!! Every infographics video about Warships!!!

This video was soo good.

USA had SuperHeavy 16" rounds that had comparable penetration, damage to yamatos 18" while being far more accurate, higher ROF.

World of warships is taking over KZfaq.

Both ship's were both incredible. But in my opinion, it would ultimately come down to the competency of the crews with each taking the respective advantages of their ships

A few things to note here. When the yamato was being built, the Japanese suffered from industrial set backs and time constraints limiting her full potential. The yamato was a very powerful warship however she was commissioned at a time when BBs were becoming obsolete at the hands of carriers so it would be fun to see her when BBs were in their prime. Another thing to note is that the US had ordered the Montana class to be able to properly and more confidently engage with ships that were around the level of the yamato class.

Do a hypothetical combined German-Japanese invasion of the Soviet Union scenario in 1941

I was expecting a scenario where both just broadsided one another

Nice analysis

Great video

You forget to tell us that only real peace can bring us all together :(

How about Bismarck class vs Littorio class

Nice assessment. I think it would come down to a combination of Mechanical Computers, Crew Skill and Execution, and a little bit of luck.

I think battleships should be brought back and redesigned for modern use. I think it would be cool to see a nuclear powered battleship. No turrets, just missile launch tubes and a fuck ton of AA defense. Have room for a few helicopters on the rear deck, possibly a small hangar for said helicopters, kind of like an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer... but bigger.

Yamato never actually was in a gun battle so saying that Yamato's crew was more experienced is a stretch. US Battleship Washington, also brand new, had no trouble dispatching IJN battleship Kirishima, which was much older. Also, as you point out, with radar directed fore control and a faster ship, it would be extremely foolish for Iowa to do anything other than attack at night. At the battle of Suragao Straights, which took place at night, IJN battleship Yamashiro scored zero hits against the flotilla of US battleships she was facing. Likely strategy for Iowa v. Yamato one on one would be to delay til and pepper Yamato with shells at range giving plunging fire on Yamato's deck armor. for Iowa to do anything else would be malpractice on the part of her captain. Also Washington suffered zero casualties in the battle (at night) against Kirishima.

Yamato would stand any chance against Iowa only in daylight and perfect visibility. Iowa with her speed advantage would easily avoid fighting under those conditions. In all other cases Iowa with her radar controlled gun targeting would quickly disable Yamato firing controls making Yamato sitting duck for target practice.

A direct pitched fight with other battleships is the one thing Yamato was explicitly designed for

Three points: One, the Iowa class battleships' 16 inch guns had a greater muzzle velocity than Yamato's 18 inch guns, which helped the Iowa class punch above its weight class. Two, American damage control was always superior to Japanese damage control. Three, there were FOUR Iowa class battleships (Iowa, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Missouri) compared with a single Yamato.

Next video: USS Iowa Vs. Japanese Kamikazes?

恥ずかしいコメントしてる日本人が居てほんと申し訳ない。 Iowaも大和も本当に素晴らしい戦艦だと思います。

One more very important aspect is called "the fog of war" where anything, including the impossible, can occur.

Very interesting, and entertaining.

the day when World War 2 become part of the channel

Most of your arguments start or end with "Iowa would just move away with its speed" - In battle, we cant guarantee that (for either side). Speed is fairly easily lost (bow damage, engine damage, etc). What would happen if the speed advantage was neutralized?

I walked Iowa on Dec of 2019 and its so cool&Big compared to the pictures i used to see back then.

Maybe I missed it, but I believe you failed to mention that Yamato had to slow down to get accurate range finder reading as Iowa could still sail at 32+ knots and have extremely accurate reading. I go visit the USS New Jersey all the time in Camden NJ and that's one thing I learned a while back about the Iowa class is that unlike most battleships including other US BBs they could run at flank speed and still accurately fire their 16 inch guns