Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:50:51-2:51:16

Interwar fire control limits time-on-target gunnery

High-elevation guns could improve plunging fire, though interwar fire control would still fall short of modern time-on-target coordination.

Capital ShipsFire ControlInterwar PeriodNaval Gunnery
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Question

Could navies with 55-degree heavy-gun elevation use time-on-target fire?

Short answer

Probably not with the available technology, though they could make long-range plunging fire much more dangerous.

Notes

Raising heavy guns to 55 degrees would not by itself provide the technology for time-on-target missions. With suitable fire control, it could still enable effective long-range plunging fire. The extra ballistic reach and the coordination needed for simultaneous arrivals are separate capabilities.