Range control beats nominal calibre - until a magazine explodes

Against an opponent mounting fifteen 15.5-inch guns, the nine-gun battleship gains the practical advantage through radar-controlled gunnery, longer range, and enough speed to prevent the enemy from closing. Even its 6-inch secondary battery begins firing before the opposing main battery, showing how fire control and engagement geometry can outweigh nominal broadside size. The enemy must increase speed to close, further disrupting its gunnery. High-explosive secondary hits add damage while the main battery maintains range control. The simulated battle ends with a sudden magazine hit, separate from the sustained damage that had been accumulating beforehand.