Eighteen-inch guns offer substantial range and hit effect. A twelve-gun 16-inch battery has a competing advantage because its lighter shells and machinery can sustain a greater volume of fire. The crews may be equally trained, yet the heavier ammunition still takes longer to move and load. A six-gun or eight-gun heavy-calibre ship risks being overwhelmed once an opponent can return fire reliably.
Notable Point · 37:28-40:00
Shell volume can outweigh larger calibre
The simulation illustrates why more smaller guns and a faster firing cycle can overwhelm a smaller battery of very large guns.