Q&A ยท 1:44:46-1:45:08

A battleship-caliber Gatling gun multiplies the wrong machinery

The extreme concept reveals that barrel rotation does not solve the slow ammunition flow behind a battleship gun.

Question

Could four battleship guns be arranged as a giant Gatling weapon?

Short answer

The logistics and machinery would be extraordinary, while the rotating arrangement would not meaningfully improve loading or firing performance.

Notes

The machinery behind the barrels presents the main obstacle. A battleship-caliber Gatling arrangement would need enormous structures to feed, load, rotate, and control several heavy guns. Those additions would not remove the shell-handling and safety limits that govern rate of fire. The result would be extreme technological and logistical cost for little practical gain.