A ship with three twin 20-inch turrets pays a fire-control penalty for its extreme calibre. Long intervals between salvos make the initial firing solution unusually important because the target can manoeuvre before the next correction arrives. Each salvo supplies less timely information for the following correction, weakening continuity in the ranging process. The design is hypothetical, and it shows why practical hit probability depends on the firing cycle as well as shell size.
Notable Point · 1:21:54-1:22:21
Why 20-inch guns make fire-control errors costly
Very large guns offer enormous shells, but a slow rate of fire gives the target time to maneuver and delays correction of the firing solution.