A continuing big-gun fleet would make ammunition replenishment a central operational question rather than a weapon-design detail. Modern vertical-launch system missiles survive launch and high-speed flight, yet their sensitivity during transfer makes reloading cells at sea difficult. Rough movement during replenishment creates a different engineering problem from the stresses of normal missile operation. Conventional shells may be easier to move and reload in poor conditions, giving gun ships a potential endurance advantage while still demanding careful ammunition handling.
Notable Point · 33:21-34:03
Heavy-gun ammunition and replenishment at sea
The video contrasts robust shell handling with the practical difficulty of replenishing delicate vertical-launch missiles at sea.