Fleet favours automatic 8-inch guns and expects a developed proposal to move towards them. Clarke's objection is that the studies under discussion specifically investigated 16-inch guns, so replacing them changes the design question. The heavy battery served both a bombardment requirement and the political appeal of visibly large weapons. One recalled study combined six 16-inch guns in two triple turrets with secondary 8-inch guns, roughly 160 VLS missiles and helicopters. These are details from remembered research into an unbuilt design. Its intended role was a mobile artillery platform able to support operations over Norway's mountainous terrain.
Notable Point · 2:43:05-2:49:39
Sixteen-inch design studies and the case for eight-inch alternatives
A disagreement over gun calibre distinguishes remembered 16-inch design studies from a proposed alternative using automatic 8-inch guns.