The Royal Navy's worldwide commitments make barrel endurance more than a workshop issue. Worn barrels in the Far East need replacements shipped out and the old weapons returned to Britain for repair. In this scenario, a 14-inch 45-calibre gun already outranges many prospective rivals, so the extra wear of a 50-calibre design may be a poor bargain. Choosing the larger calibre with a shorter barrel preserves a useful range advantage while reducing how often that global replacement cycle occurs. Against contemporary 11-inch and 12-inch guns, the proposed 14-inch/45 already offers the range advantage being sought.
Notable Point · 1:52:43-1:54:20
Why a 14-inch 45-calibre gun may beat a longer barrel
A larger but shorter-calibre gun can preserve range while reducing barrel wear and the global logistics burden of frequent replacement.