Dreadnought's wing turrets are linked to the requirement for six guns firing ahead while pursuing an opponent. If Fisher had accepted superfiring turrets, the argument is that he would still have demanded those six guns and therefore sought triple mountings. The resulting hypothetical ship carries fifteen 14-inch guns in five turrets, including one amidships, in an arrangement approaching the later Orion class. A longer, narrower hull might also have produced about 22 knots on similar power, although that remains a design conjecture. Such a ship would force rivals to confront both a larger caliber and a higher speed standard. Germany would need a response beyond its 11-inch guns, while an American expedient might enlarge the South Carolina arrangement to carry eight 14-inch guns.
Notable Point · 1:54:50-2:01:17
A Dreadnought with fifteen 14-inch guns
The requirement to range with six guns firing ahead leads to a counterfactual Dreadnought with superfiring triple turrets and a much higher threshold for rival battleship programs.