The design trade-off is not simply to make every naval gun longer. More barrel length demands more propellant gas to achieve the desired muzzle velocity, and the larger charge increases wear. Faster erosion means more frequent barrel replacement and a larger maintenance burden behind the apparent range gain. Modern naval guns can accept some of this cost because they are fired less often than the main batteries of an earlier gun fleet, but a revived battleship force would have to confront the trade-off at much greater scale.
Notable Point · 12:57-13:55
Barrel length buys range but consumes guns
Longer, more accurate gun barrels promise greater range, but their larger propellant charges accelerate barrel wear and replacement needs.