The New Mexico class carried twelve 14-inch guns while contemporary British ships carried eight 15-inch weapons. The American layout offers a cheeky challenge to the assumption that the larger British shell automatically made the ship superior. Fifty per cent more guns could deliver a heavier or more resilient salvo even with a smaller individual calibre. Battleship firepower depended on battery size as well as headline gun diameter.
Notable Point · 14:00-14:23
New Mexico answers calibre with salvo weight
New Mexico’s twelve 14-inch guns turn the British advantage in 15-inch calibre into a practical comparison of shell size and gun numbers.