Q&A · 1:19:39-2:10:58

What battleship gunfire would change in the Falklands campaign

Anson and Howe could provide long-range, high-volume fire from San Carlos, adding both physical destruction and a morale effect that smaller-caliber support could not duplicate.

Question

How would Anson and Howe affect the Falklands War, and how would their 14-inch fire compare with modern 155 mm support?

Short answer

They could deliver powerful long-range support from San Carlos, with fewer but vastly more destructive rounds and a major morale effect against fixed defenses.

Notes

The 14-inch guns could support troops across much of the campaign from relative safety in San Carlos Water. A first-minute burst might place roughly three rounds per gun onto a target, while each ship carried about 200 to 250 rounds per gun. Six-inch weapons would offer more rounds and finer distribution across many targets, but a concentrated 14-inch salvo could destroy a fortified position and produce a disproportionate psychological effect. Existing mechanical fire-control systems could coordinate time-on-target work without needing a fully digital architecture. The tradeoff concerns sustained precision and flexibility against range, destructive area, and shock.