Q&A · 1:52:59-1:53:18

Do French double-twin turrets save weight?

The divided French mounting offers a damage-tolerance argument, but the proposed weight advantage over triple turrets is rejected.

Question

Could two double-twin turrets be lighter than a three-by-three main-battery arrangement?

Short answer

The answer rejects the proposed weight saving: the French double-twin mounting is not lighter than a triple turret.

Notes

The French arrangement places two twin-gun mechanisms inside one turret. A failure affecting one half can leave the other pair of guns working. The audience also raises the risk of a jam affecting the whole mounting. Dividing the mechanisms does not establish a weight saving over a triple turret, and the answer rejects the suggested advantage without supplying comparative weights.