Why gun calibre alone cannot rank naval weapons

How should German 11-inch and American 12-inch guns be ranked?

Performance depends on the particular model: a later American 12-inch installation is judged excellent, while early versions are considered relatively weak.

German 11-inch and American 12-inch weapons cannot receive one useful ranking without identifying the variant. Both gun families are regarded as respectable, but their individual versions differ considerably. A later American 12-inch installation is judged excellent, whereas guns in early ships are considered relatively weak. Bore diameter alone leaves out changes made between generations of the weapon.