Individual weapons became much more powerful and specialised. In the hypothetical comparison, a 1930s sloop with at most two or three 4-inch guns could destroy both fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar. Its high-explosive shells and accurate fire at range would make most of the sailing warships single-shot kills in this imagined encounter. The example illustrates how a few modern guns could represent far more combat power than a large Age of Sail total. Counting barrels says little once the weapons and their effects are no longer broadly comparable.
Notable Point · 0:36-1:20
Why modern gun totals became misleading
Modern gun totals lost much of their value once calibre, shell effects, range, and accuracy determined what a few weapons could achieve.