Lion-class guns and maximum practicable range

Were the Lion-class 45-calibre guns designed for consistency and accuracy rather than maximum performance?

Yes; British thinking emphasized reliable early hits at practicable ranges, while US and Japanese doctrine placed more value on extreme Pacific engagement distances.

The Lion-class gun work emphasized consistent accuracy and the chance of early hits, not merely maximum ballistic performance. British doctrine asked what range was practicable across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and often poor-visibility waters, while American and Japanese practice could prioritize very long Pacific engagements. The contrast reflects operating geography as much as engineering preference.