A test battle initially reveals that a forward turret cannot fire as intended, forcing a redesign of its location. Once corrected, the ship can bring all nine 16-inch guns to useful angles. A French opponent supplies a direct comparison between two quadruple 15-inch turrets and the British proposal's three triple 16-inch turrets. Turret count, calibre, firing arcs, and the number of hulls available all shape combat power, so the layout has consequences beyond appearance.
Notable Point · 21:02-28:25
All-forward guns and practical firing arcs
The trial exposes a placement problem, then shows why three forward triple turrets can provide wide arcs and concentrated firepower.