Q&A · 32:15-32:39

All-forward main guns versus the G3 and N3 Q turret

The G3 and N3 Q-turret scheme is preferable to a Nelson-style all-forward arrangement, even though Nelson and Rodney had reasons for adopting their layout.

All Forward Gun Layout Capital Ship Design G3 Class Battlecruisers HMS Nelson HMS Rodney Main Battery Layout N3 Class Battleships Nelson Class Battleships Treaty Battleships Triple Gun Turrets Warship Design

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Question

Would a Nelson-like all-forward G3 or N3 be better than the Q-turret design?

Short answer

No. The all-forward solution is the worse of the two layouts, despite the reasons for using it on Nelson and Rodney.

Notes

An all-forward arrangement like Nelson's would be worse than retaining the G3 and N3 Q-turret scheme. Nelson and Rodney had understandable reasons for concentrating all three main turrets forward, but the same compromise is not preferred for this hypothetical design. The exchange does not develop the design tradeoffs further.