Q&A ยท 56:48-57:04

Why 9.4-inch naval guns rarely displaced 9.2-inch weapons

A short caliber comparison identifies a recurring experiment that failed to become the durable standard.

Question

Did navies seriously pursue 9.4-inch guns instead of the more familiar 9.2-inch caliber?

Short answer

Several navies experimented with the slightly larger caliber, but the designs generally returned to 9.2-inch weapons.

Notes

Dutch, Swedish, and British designers explored 9.4-inch weapons, with possible German interest as well. The calibre was more than a paper curiosity confined to one navy. Even so, designers repeatedly returned to the established 9.2-inch size because a marginal increase in shell diameter still had to justify its wider design and logistical consequences.