The simulated four-ship action initially becomes a rout: three Italian ships are lost while the Austro-Hungarian squadron has suffered no losses. The outcome warns against assuming that individual gun calibre decides a fleet action, though it cannot provide a conclusive verdict on ships that were never built. The 14-to-15-inch gap is small enough for two extra heavy guns per ship, first spotting, and critical-hit chances to matter greatly. From there, the thought experiment moves into British procurement: a change from 13.5-inch to 14-inch guns might have encouraged a later leap to 16-inch weapons. Queen Elizabeths, Revenges, Renown, Repulse, and Hood could then have formed a large common 16-inch fleet. Such a fleet might in turn have shifted American gun development, Washington Treaty limits, and the design space for Nelson and Rodney.
Notable Point · 46:07-51:34
What the simulation suggests about 14-inch and 15-inch guns
The automated phase heavily favors the Austrian 14-inch squadron, challenging the assumption that a 15-inch battery automatically outweighs more 14-inch guns.