Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:57:26-1:57:56

Why the French split-quad turret did not isolate damage well

A thin internal divider reduced working space but was unlikely to prevent blast and fragments from disabling both halves of a French quadruple turret.

Damage ControlFrench BattleshipsNaval GunsQuadruple TurretsWarship Design
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Question

Did dividing French quadruple turrets into two-gun halves substantially improve survivability?

Short answer

Not much; the divider was too slight to contain a serious internal explosion and reduced useful turret space.

Notes

French quadruple turrets divided their four guns into two pairs, apparently offering some isolation. The arrangement consumed valuable internal space without creating a robust armoured barrier. A penetrating hit and explosion on one side could drive blast and fragments through the thin divider and disable the other pair. The split added complexity and fragmentation hazards without solving the concentration risk of four guns in one turret.