Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:30:04-3:32:33

A Cadorna-sized destroyer with multiple 5.5-inch guns

Loading arrangements make four triple or quadruple 5.5-inch mountings an awkward choice for a ship already in light-cruiser territory.

5.5-inch Guns6-inch GunsDestroyersDual Purpose GunsGun TurretsLight CruisersLuigi Cadorna Class Light Cruisers
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Question

How effective would a Cadorna-sized destroyer be with four triple or quadruple rapid-firing, high-velocity 5.5-inch dual-purpose mountings?

Short answer

It would be an unnecessarily complicated light cruiser, with crowded loading arrangements and hull dimensions working against the dense armament.

Notes

The proposal combines Luigi Cadorna's size, armour and speed with many rapid-firing, high-velocity medium-calibre barrels. Experience with triple four-inch guns introduces the problem of loading crews getting in each other's way. Twin mountings can work with manual loading; triples become more useful around six inches when mechanisation reduces interference between crews. Quadruples are considered more sensible above about twelve inches. A personal design preference would put six-inch guns on a ship using 5,500 tons of standard displacement. Increasing the number of barrels would also affect the narrow hull, potentially demanding greater beam and length.