Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:22:24-2:24:08

Three-inch firing arcs versus high-altitude reach

Moving three-inch mounts into elevated positions could improve overlapping arcs, while retained heavy guns would preserve high-altitude coverage.

3-inch Guns8-inch GunsAnti-Aircraft GunsFictional Warships (World of Warships)Naval GunneryShip Design
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Question

Would replacing some eight-inch mounts with three-inch guns lose the ability to engage high-altitude targets?

Short answer

The retained eight-inch guns could still cover higher targets, while better-positioned three-inch mounts would improve close anti-aircraft coverage.

Notes

The game cruiser has three twin three-inch mounts on each side. Replacing one or two elevated eight-inch positions with three-inch mounts could give the same number of light mounts broader fields of fire: four covering either side and three covering ahead or astern. A participant objects that the smaller gun has a lower altitude ceiling. The reply is that the retained eight-inch guns would still cover higher targets and that this cruiser would normally fight within a larger force. The exchange weighs where a mount can fire against how far it can reach.