Battleship gun calibre did not decide sustained firepower

Yamato's 18-inch guns offered heavy shells, but the comparison here focuses on moving that ammunition through the ship. Alex argues that shell weight and bulk constrained the practical rate of fire. He contrasts that with the more manageable 14-inch ammunition of the King George V class and its potential for sustained output. He still prefers the proposed nine 15-inch gun arrangement for the British class, judging its triple turrets and guns easier to work with. His comparison assumes that an engagement will continue beyond its first salvo, making later rounds and ammunition handling important alongside armour and nominal calibre.