More guns help only while their shells can penetrate

Is it better to have more smaller guns or fewer bigger guns?

Choose more guns while their shells can penetrate the expected enemy protection at normal battle ranges. Once they cannot, a larger calibre is needed.

More barrels give a penetrating weapon more opportunities to hit. The useful calibre therefore depends on the enemy protection and the distance at which battle is expected. Lyon illustrates the limit of multiplying an existing weapon: sixteen 340 mm guns would still face opponents designed to resist heavier shells. Increasing the battery cannot solve inadequate penetration.