A large guided shell can provide some missile capabilities while leaving much of the propulsion burden in the gun and propellant. The objection is cost: inexpensive unguided rounds remain a major reason to carry naval guns. A magazine of roughly two hundred to four hundred shells allows a mixture of conventional ammunition, long-range guided rounds, and specialist ammunition. The discussion mentions anti-submarine shells as one possible part of that mix. The comparison with a Mark 41 vertical launch system concerns the ability to select different weapons for different tasks. Aircraft generally favor missiles because they cannot so easily carry the weight of a large gun and its ammunition supply.
Notable Point · 2:52:55-2:55:43
Why a naval gun should retain cheap unguided ammunition
A mixed magazine preserves cheap conventional fire while allowing selected guided or specialist shells for tasks that justify their expense.