Why published gun rates of fire need context

HMS Rodney's output against Bismarck shows why a single published rate can mislead. Her official figure was roughly 1.5 rounds per minute, and she matched it during the long-range part of the action. The full-battle average is given as 1.69 rounds per minute, so a rough calculation places her close-range rate at about 2.26 during the final quarter. Some navies quoted only the level loading and firing cycle, while a realistic figure also allowed for lowering, reloading, and re-elevating guns to an operational firing angle. Gun comparisons need to establish which definition a navy used.