The French design illustrates how quadruple mountings make a ship beamier and create structural and armour burdens beyond the turret's own weight. The wider hull must be supported and protected across the added beam. Those penalties make a twelve-16-inch-gun layout in three quadruple forward turrets less attractive despite its firepower. Battery size cannot be separated from the hull required to carry it.
Notable Point · 38:23-41:11
Why quadruple turrets impose a hull penalty
Quadruple turrets concentrate guns but demand a wider, heavier hull that must itself be protected and supported.