How effective is shore bombardment?

In the Pacific theater shore bombardment was a vital part of U.S. operations against Japanese-held islands. The big battleships, with their 14- and 16-inch guns, proved highly effective in a shore-bombardment role. Fire from the battleships, which could range out to 20 miles or more, was extraordinarily accurate.

What is a naval bombardment?

Naval gunfire support (NGFS) (also known as shore bombardment) is the use of naval artillery to provide fire support for amphibious assault and other troops operating within their range. NGFS is one of a number of disciplines encompassed by the term naval fires.

What was the importance of shore bombardment in WW2?

Shore bombardment was critical during World War II in both the European and Pacific theaters. The Allied landings on Sicily in July 1943 received critical help from naval gunfire. Clearly the troops who landed at Salerno, Italy, in September 1943 suffered from the lack of preliminary bombardment.

How effective were battleships in WW1?

The big battleships, with their 14- and 16-inch guns, proved highly effective in a shore-bombardment role. The Americans learned early on that longer preliminary bombardments were necessary, followed by close gunfire support from destroyers and larger vessels during the actual landings and once troops were ashore.

How did pre-invasion naval bombardments work?

Pre-invasion naval bombardments came in two main forms. The first aimed to knock out the heavy coastal defence guns that could fire on the landing ships and interfere in the landings. The second aimed to suppress the defenders on and behind the beaches.

How effective were naval guns in WW1?

Naval guns used high velocities, which required shells with thick bodies and comparatively small bursting charges, making them less effective than land-based artillery or bombers. A 16in HE shell (weighing 2048lbs) will damage 1400 square feet of a steel-framed building, while a 2000lb bomb will damage 8800 square feet.