The late-1970s Mark 71 already reached roughly 29 kilometres in the figures discussed. The contemporary British Mark 8 began near 22 kilometres and reached about 27.5 kilometres with later ammunition. A five-inch anti-submarine projectile then under development suggests what a similar idea might do with an eight-inch payload. These comparisons make the larger shell's undeveloped potential more concrete than a simple caliber comparison. Continued work on rocket-assisted or other modern eight-inch rounds could have produced a much longer-ranged support weapon while preserving reloadable gun ammunition at sea.
Notable Point · 21:41-23:56
The Mark 71 already outranged a modernized Mark 8
A direct range comparison shows how much development headroom an eight-inch naval gun offered with rocket-assisted or other modern ammunition.