Best in class

[borner]

Correct, a slightly smaller calaber but still better range and weight of broadside than 12x14"
 
 

[tocaff]

Let's not forget the limiting factor of range due to gunnery control and sighting limitations.  Most naval actions were fought at ranges easily attained by those 14" guns, even with radar.  Naval spotting with aircraft was something that came along after the construction of these older BBS.  Some of them even had additional elevation made possible when they were refitted.

I don't think that any of these bad boys were anything other than trouble in a fight as they proved in their lengthy service. 

[borner]

quite true on the range. Look at the old German WWI BB's. Lighter guns, but better protection and higher rates of fire, as combat was expected in the North sea where you never could see very far anyway.
 
 

[tocaff]

Well lighter guns, as in 14s, not 11s.  Plunging fire is a deadly thing so ranges were fought much closer, normally, than the guns could reach.  Many things go into the naval tactics of a surface gunnery action so size of shell vs throw weight of a broadside, penetration vs armor protection, etc all figure into it, not just my 18.1" is heavier than your 16" (which can fire faster and more accurately). 

[Wirraway_Ace]

While I have always been a Bismark fan, I think it is good to remember that while she was very hard to sink, but was rendered combat ineffective quickly. She was quickly overwhelmed by Rodney (although morale was probably very low with the rudder jammed hard-over and the Admiral wondering around in a life-preserver)

Prinz Eugen was an awfully big ship to pack only 8 8" guns and only decent armor.

Sharnhorst would have been fine if she had ever got her 6 x 15s in lieu of the 9 x 11s. As it was, she never had a chance to hurt Duke of York.

Some of the French destroyers were awe-inspiring, but they were very large ships for a class that is supposed to be expendable.

Ark Royal had a fatal flaw in her underwater protection and design of her engineering spaces. Her range, air group size and av-fuel capacities were also sub-standard if I remember correctly.

The big twins, Shok and Zuk were big, fast, long-legged and reasonably rugged. I think you can flip a coin between them and the Yorktowns.

Nagato and Kongo were both designs that stood the test of passing decades probably better than any other ships--I think this hints at exceptional design.

IJN CAs were big, fast and powerful, but should have been more balanced (more armor) to compete for best designs in a class that should have the balance to do many things well. USN CAs had similiar balance issues due to the treaty constraints. The Exeters were too much of a compromise. I like the Zara's as a class and France's Algerie as the single best beginning war CA if you accept a one-off class.

CLs defy description as a class, but I like the utility on small tonnage of the Fijis