Battleship Length Comparison (Overall Meters)
Compare 14 WWII battleship overall lengths: South Dakota 207m, Bismarck 251m, Yamato 263m, Iowa 270m and more. Naval records inside. See full ship table here.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota (1939) Shortest here. | 207.3 m (680.1 ft) | US Navy, 680 ft oa | Naval records: South Dakota 207.3 m oa |
| North Carolina Fifteen over South Dakota. | 222.1 m (728.7 ft) | US Navy, 728 ft oa | Naval records: North Carolina 222.1 m oa |
| Nagato (modernized) Near three over North Carolina. | 224.9 m (737.9 ft) | IJN, post 1938 refit | Navypedia Nagato: 224.9 m oa modernized |
| King George V (1939) Two over Nagato. | 227.1 m (745.1 ft) | Royal Navy, 745 ft oa | Naval records: King George V 227.1 m oa |
| Littorio Ten over King George V. | 237.8 m (780.2 ft) | Regia Marina, first pair | Naval records: Littorio 237.8 m oa |
| Roma Three over Littorio. | 240.7 m (789.7 ft) | Regia Marina, lengthened bow | Naval records: Roma 240.7 m oa |
| Richelieu Seven over Roma. | 247.9 m (813.3 ft) | Marine Nationale | Navypedia Richelieu: 247.9 m oa |
| Vanguard Near tie with Richelieu. | 248.2 m (814.3 ft) | Royal Navy, last battleship | Navypedia Vanguard: 248.2 m oa |
| Bismarck Ties Tirpitz. | 251 m (823.5 ft) | Kriegsmarine | Naval records: Bismarck 251 m oa |
| Tirpitz Ties Bismarck. Heavier displacement. | 251 m (823.5 ft) | Kriegsmarine sister | Naval records: Tirpitz 251 m oa, same dimensions |
| Hood Eleven over Bismarck tier. | 262.3 m (860.6 ft) | Royal Navy battlecruiser | Naval records: HMS Hood 262.3 m oa |
| Yamato Near tie with Hood. Heaviest ever. | 263 m (862.9 ft) | IJN, largest ever | Naval records: Yamato 263 m oa |
| Missouri (BB-63) Ties Iowa. | 270.4 m (887.1 ft) | US Navy Iowa class | USSMissouri.org: 887ft 3in, 270.4 m oa |
| Iowa Top here. Sixty three over South Dakota. | 270.4 m (887.1 ft) | US Navy lead ship | Naval records: Iowa class 270.4 m oa |
About this converter
WWII battleship overall lengths run 207.3 to 270.4 meters. South Dakota opens at 207.3, North Carolina at 222.1, Nagato at 224.9, King George V at 227.1, Littorio at 237.8, Roma at 240.7, Richelieu at 247.9, Vanguard at 248.2, Bismarck and Tirpitz at 251, Hood at 262.3, Yamato at 263 and Missouri and Iowa at 270.4. That makes Iowa equal over one and a quarter South Dakotas. Waterline lengths run shorter off page while rows pin overall.
How to use it
Pick two ships and a unit in the top row, for example Iowa and South Dakota. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. One box holds a count of the first length, one holds the matching count of the second, one holds the total in the picked unit. Try 1 Yamato against Bismarcks.
Bismarck and Tirpitz share dimensions with different displacements noted. Nagato rows use the modernized 224.9 while as completed 215.8 sits out. Feet follow from meters at 0.3048 per foot. Displacement sits beside length in records off page. All set.
FAQ
What is longest here?
Iowa class at 270.4 m overall. Yamato follows at 263.
How long is Bismarck?
251 m overall. Tirpitz ties her.
Why two lengths?
Overall vs waterline. Rows pin overall oa.
Where are these from?
Wikipedia naval records and Navypedia overall figures.
Sources
- Naval records: South Dakota 207.3 through King George V 227.1 oa
- Navypedia: Nagato 224.9, Richelieu 247.9, Vanguard 248.2 oa
- Naval records: Bismarck 251, Hood 262.3, Yamato 263 oa
- USSMissouri.org and naval records: Iowa class 270.4 m oa
Last verified: 2026-09-30 · 14 entries
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