Firing first creates more chances to disable the enemy

The tactical value of rapid fire lies in the number of opportunities a ship creates to hit something critical. If two opponents achieve the same accuracy, the ship firing three times as many rounds gets roughly three times as many chances to cause decisive damage. Preparation, leadership, and weapon reliability still matter, so volume alone is not a guarantee of victory. The projectile must also be powerful enough and have enough range to affect the opponent, which is why a Gatling gun could not solve the armored-warship problem. Automation can shorten the first-shot delay and sustain a higher flow of effective weapons.