Major wars repeatedly revive interest in naval guns, with the Falklands War given as one example. Ships can carry a substantial supply of shells, making magazine depth part of the comparison with guided missiles. Lasers offer another defensive system, with an explicit reservation about whether they can be relied on in all weather. Keeping guns alongside lasers is proposed as a practical backup.
Chapter · 42:31-43:21
Gun magazines and the limits of lasers
Large shell magazines and uncertainty about all-weather laser performance support retaining guns alongside newer defensive weapons.