Eight-inch turrets and firing while withdrawing

Six- and eight-inch cruiser batteries imposed different weight and protection choices. An eight-inch gun could be more than was needed against another cruiser, while a six-inch battery saved weight for armour. Royal Navy eight-inch turrets also show that a lighter gun did not guarantee a lighter mounting. Early mounts could elevate to about 70 degrees and were used in the anti-aircraft role. A later Mark II gun intended to save weight ended up in a heavier turret that traversed much faster. Fast traverse mattered during hard turns or withdrawal, when slow mounts could leave the battery pointing to the wrong side. The same tactical logic shaped the Battle-class destroyers' forward gun concentration, which allowed fire over the stern while the ship withdrew after launching torpedoes.