Will the yamato beat the uss Missouri in a battle?

Answer 1

first answer: Yes. The IJN Yamato would win in the fight against the USS Missouri :(

second better answer: The battle would be more even for the following reasons:

Missouri was faster at full speed (making her harder to hit).

Missouri's steel armor plates were of a superior quality than the Japanese steel armor of that time, making the armor thickness comparisons more favorable for modern US fast battleships (by about 25%).

Missouri was overall better constructed than the Japanese battleship, and better able to withstand damage. The Yamato in-fact was shaken very badly by it's own main guns when fired.

Missouri's armor distribution was based on the superior design principle of "All or Nothing" vs. the Japanese (and other nations) incremental armor distribution. This meant that the US fast battleship's armor was dedicated only to those parts of the ship that were absolutely essential for the ship's survival & ability to fight with the main guns (propulsion, magazines, main guns, steering, ship control & buoyancy). The incremental armor concept dispersed armor over more areas of the ship that were unnecessary such as berthing & mess decks (normally sailors are not eating or sleeping during combat). This resulted in modern US ships having better combat protection.

Missouri & her crew had much better damage control equipment, training & actual capability.

Missouri had better Fire Direction Equipment (except optics) to direct main & secondary battery gunfire and these systems were paired with excellent Fire Control Radar equipment. The Missouri had good surface search & air search radar equipment. This makes its accuracy far superior to the Yamato's.

Although the Yamato's 18.1" guns had slightly superior range to the Missouri's 16" guns, this would have no impact because the ability to hit a moving ship beyond 26,500 yards has never been accomplished in combat. At long ranges the Missouri would have a far better chance of hitting its target than the Yamato, especially at night or in poor visibility conditions.

The Missouri's 2,700 pound armor piercing shell because of its high muzzle velocity had excellent armor penetration capability compared to the Yamato's 3,219 pound shell. Also the Missouri's guns could fire more rounds per minute than the Yamato.

The Yamato was more vulnerable to long-rang plunging fire (thinner armored-deck armor) from the Missouri than the reverse.

Summary: The Missouri would have a monumental advantage if combat began at 20,000 yards at night or at virtually any range if visibility is obscured (fog, heavy rain, etc.). The Yamato could stay even at ranges below 20,000 yards and with excellent visibility. The visibility would have to be good enough for the Japanese crew to accurately spot its shell splashes. I'd rather be on the Missouri (behind armor) in any situation.