The US Navy designed the Florida class around cruising range, coal firing assisted by oil burners, and roughly 20,800 shaft horsepower. Its five twin 12-inch turrets were all mounted on the centerline, avoiding the partial batteries created by British wing turrets. Superfiring pairs forward and aft gave the design a strong theoretical broadside. The middle after turret, however, could not fire directly astern because the rearmost turret blocked it. Firing one same-level turret close past another would also expose the neighboring gun crew to severe blast, noise, and vibration. The arrangement therefore improved the firing arcs without making centerline mounting an automatic solution to every problem.
Chapter · 12:10-14:18
Florida-class centerline turrets challenge British design
The Florida class combines long-range machinery choices with ten centerline 12-inch guns, improving firing arcs while retaining a troublesome same-level after pair.