Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:40:55-3:41:12

The 8-inch gun as a treaty compromise

The Royal Navy adopted 8-inch cruiser guns because treaty limits defined the category, rather than because the service considered the calibre ideal.

8-inch GunsHeavy CruisersNaval TreatiesRoyal NavyWarship Design
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Question

How much did the Royal Navy value the 8-inch cruiser gun?

Short answer

It valued the gun relatively little and adopted it chiefly because treaty limits made 8 inches the relevant cruiser calibre.

Notes

The Royal Navy did not place great value on the 8-inch gun itself. British designers regarded it as insufficiently powerful for the larger cruiser capability they wanted. Treaty definitions nevertheless made the calibre the practical choice for the permitted class. Arms-control rules created a design compromise that the service would not otherwise select.