Why more 16-inch guns can beat fewer 18-inch guns

How do 18-inch and 16-inch guns compare in rate of fire and practical firepower?

The smaller guns can fire more often and in greater numbers, which may create a much larger volume of fire.

The comparison begins with sustained firing rather than headline shell size. An 18-inch gun might fire two ready rounds quickly but settle near three rounds every two minutes, while a 16-inch gun can sustain closer to two rounds per minute. A ship can also carry more 16-inch barrels in comparable space. Across ten minutes, that combination creates far more shells, more ranging information, and more chances for even a low hit probability to produce actual damage.