Q&A · 3:01:50-3:02:36

Why a steel gun mount could worsen alloy-hull corrosion

A proposed fixed gun installation runs into the material problem created by placing steel close to an aluminium-copper hull in salt water.

Question

Could a Soviet alloy-hulled torpedo boat carry two to four fixed forward guns with limited traverse?

Short answer

Steel gun components close to the aluminium-copper hull in salt water would risk worsening corrosion.

Notes

The proposed installation would arm the boat like a fighter aircraft, using two to four forward guns with limited traverse. Steel gun barrels would sit close to an aluminium-copper alloy hull. Repeated salt-water exposure raised concern that the combination would accelerate hull corrosion. That concern remains an objection to the proposal without settling whether the mounting could otherwise work.