Not that I've tried to do the math, but I expect it is much like firing

a handgun or rifle. Yes, there is recoil and kick, but it ain't enough to knock you off your feet. The human body just has too much mass relative to the bullet for the firing of the bullet to move you.

I would think a large naval gun would be similar, at least relative to the mass of the whole ship. There is a kick, and the ship will rock or shudder some, but I don't see it knocking the whole ship backwards.

In response to this post by RTFC

Posted: 02/09/2021 at 07:49AM

The only RN ship w/16" guns, the HMS Nelson... -- ColoVT82 02/08/2021 8:23PM

And the Rodney (sisterships). -- Chris Coleman

02/09/2021 11:40AM

My Dad watched an Iowa Class bomb a Japanese held island from his Carrier -- Tuckahokie 02/08/2021 10:02PM

I talked to a guy that served in the Navy during the 1980's reactivations -- HokieDan95 02/08/2021 10:29PM

It's just a crap load of kinetic energy. ** -- ElbertoHokie 02/09/2021 09:22AM

...quad front too. I've read those were hard(er) to keep in service. ** -- bourbonstreet 02/08/2021 9:10PM

Yep, 3 guns seemed to be where designers settled ** -- ColoVT82 02/08/2021 9:24PM

The ship looks like it was put together by a committee. At least to my -- ColoVT82 02/08/2021 9:19PM

Trying to figure out how to fit as much as you can into the 35,000 ton -- vawter85 02/08/2021 9:53PM

Ty for memory jog. Even so, wish it was more balanced looking. No a$$ ** -- ColoVT82 02/09/2021 07:36AM

Unfortunately one cool notion about battleships is not true -- HokieDan95 02/08/2021 8:49PM

Maybe not. But if they fire in your direction, you might have a movement. ** -- Hokie360 02/08/2021 9:55PM

Like this? -- ColoVT82 02/08/2021 9:22PM

The physics aren't there.....link -- HokieDan95 02/08/2021 9:46PM

I agree. Pics show no wave action indicating lateral movement. ** -- ColoVT82 02/08/2021 9:52PM

55,000 ton ship almost 860 feet long with a draft of about 37 ft -- HokieDan95 02/08/2021 10:09PM

Except the gun barrels aren't necessarily mounted along... -- MP4VT2004 02/08/2021 11:05PM

Yep, maybe not measurable, but ship "tries" to roll - Third law requires it ** -- RTFC 02/08/2021 11:16PM

Not that I've tried to do the math, but I expect it is much like firing -- Tafkam Hokie 02/09/2021 07:49AM

I'm not at all knowledgeable about fluid dynamics... -- MP4VT2004 02/08/2021 11:19PM

Then you are just slowing (or accelerating) the earth's spin rate .... ;) ** -- RTFC 02/08/2021 11:28PM

So it's like a time machine? ** -- MP4VT2004 02/08/2021 11:30PM

Not that I've tried to do the math, but I expect it is much like firing

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