Caliber proliferation multiplies fleet burdens

The Royal Navy worked on seven calibers from 3-inch to 5.5-inch weapons at the same time for broadly similar roles. Every additional caliber created distinct training requirements, ammunition chains, and support needs. Some variety could be justified for upgrading old ships or separating submarine, destroyer, cruiser, and capital-ship requirements. Two or perhaps three families may have covered those differences. A technically plausible weapon can still be a poor fleet-level procurement choice when proliferation overwhelms standardization.