An all-forward battery rewards a captain who keeps the bow toward the enemy. In the visual-ranging era, that narrow aspect made the ship harder to identify and range on than a broadside target. Radar changes the method of detection, although the bow still presents a smaller return than the side. The layout belongs to a fighting method built around the ship's narrow forward aspect.
Chapter · 6:22-8:10
Why put every heavy gun forward?
A forward battery rewards tactics that keep a narrow target facing the enemy during visual ranging.