Q&A · 1:30:04-1:31:03

Why Hawkins carried 7.5-inch guns

The Hawkins-class caliber followed weapon availability and shell-handling requirements rather than a clean paper standard.

Ammunition Handling Cruiser Design Hawkins Class Heavy Cruisers Naval Guns Royal Navy

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Question

Why did the Royal Navy choose 7.5-inch guns for the Hawkins class?

Short answer

They were available and fit the desired shell-handling limits, within a broader British pattern of caliber development.

Notes

The Royal Navy selected a gun it could obtain and whose ammunition matched the handling assumptions for the ship. British calibers evolved in half-inch increments, which is why later descriptions of the G3's intended guns can be misleading.