Broadside weight versus the danger of an 18-inch hit

The simulated comparison puts eight 18-inch guns against twelve or fifteen 16-inch guns. The American ship has formidable volume of fire and appears broadly comparable, although a single successful 18-inch hit can still end the engagement. Main-battery range and secondary-battery range heavily influence the game because the AI repeatedly closes farther than a real commander might choose. The trials therefore test a counterfactual design under game behavior, with individual lucky hits producing unstable results.