More barrels may look stronger on paper, but putting them into fewer complex turrets can make a ship more vulnerable to the loss of a single mounting. Eight guns in two turrets and six guns in three both leave four guns after one turret is disabled, but after two losses only the three-turret ship can still fire. Renown, Illustrious, Formidable, Warspite, and Texas appear as remembered examples of warships that took damage and kept fighting. Turret weight and position also affect stability and buoyancy, so a designer must ask how the hull will remain afloat and combat-capable after it has been hit.
Chapter · 52:33-55:37
Designing a battleship to keep fighting after damage
The closing argument treats a warship's ability to absorb damage and retain fighting power as the test of a sound turret layout.