This article explores the role of the battleship in naval strategy, challenging the contention that they were obsolete before the end of World War II, using the D-Day landings of June 1944 as its focus. It argues that battleships played two indispensable roles. First, they countered the threat from enemy capital ships, both to achieve command of the sea and to protect the invasion fleet. Second, they provided fire support both for the initial assault and also thereafter in defending the bridgehead and assisting the Allied advance, thereby contributing to the collapse of the German strategy for defence.

中文翻译：

---

战舰、D 日和海军战略

本文探讨了战舰在海军战略中的作用，以 1944 年 6 月的 D 日登陆为重点，挑战了战舰在二战结束前就已经过时的论点。它认为战列舰扮演了两个不可或缺的角色。首先，他们反击来自敌方主力舰的威胁，既要取得制海权，又要保护入侵舰队。其次，他们为最初的进攻提供了火力支援，随后也为保卫桥头堡和协助盟军推进提供了火力支援，从而导致德国防御战略的崩溃。