Q&A · 1:55:45-1:56:45

Autoloaders and warship design pressure

An autoloader question connects faster heavy-gun systems to crew quality, accommodation, and possible changes in cruiser gun calibres.

Question

How would a functional autoloader change warship design from about 1895?

Short answer

It would change more than the turret: skilled maintainers, better crew spaces, and a new balance between gun calibres would all follow.

Notes

Autoloading is more than a simple crew-cutting device. Reliable autoloaders would require skilled maintainers, better quarters, and a different cost model, while also changing the tradeoff between six-inch, eight-inch, and even larger guns.