Gun calibre is treated as an industrial as well as a tactical decision. Dreadnought's 12-inch armament is linked to the pressure for rapid construction after Tsushima and the immediate availability of the weapon. A jump to 14-inch guns could have forced Germany to develop new weapons sooner and delayed its entry into the new race. It would also reshape British battlecruiser layouts and make later jumps to 16- or even 18-inch guns more plausible.
Notable Point · 24:10-27:06
How a larger Dreadnought gun could reshape the naval race
A larger initial gun calibre on HMS Dreadnought could have delayed rivals and changed subsequent British capital-ship choices.