Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:05:59-2:07:45

Why more guns per turret can reduce practical fighting value

British quadruple-turret studies ran into ammunition, space, protection and complexity costs that often made triple or twin mountings the better balance.

HMS BelfastHMS EdinburghNaval GunneryQuadruple TurretsTriple Turrets
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Question

Why did the Royal Navy often prefer twin or triple turrets over quadruple mountings?

Short answer

Quadruples imposed space, complexity, ammunition and protection penalties, while triples or twins usually offered a better balance for the gun calibre involved.

Notes

A four-gun turret promises impressive salvo weight but consumes ammunition quickly and makes machinery and spares more demanding. Proposed quadruple six-inch mounts for Belfast and Edinburgh show the tradeoff. Replacing four quadruples with four triples leaves substantial firepower while giving each gun more working room and protection. Triples therefore fit many 14- to 16-inch battleship guns and six-inch cruiser guns, while twins become more attractive for very large 18- or 20-inch weapons and cruiser calibres above six inches.