Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:13:10-1:13:17

Four-inch versus six-inch submarine deck guns

A practical 4-inch deck gun is preferred over a heavier 6-inch weapon for a commerce-raiding submarine.

4-inch Guns6-inch GunsCommerce RaidingDeck GunsNaval GunnerySubmarinesUSS Nautilus
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Question

Was a 6-inch deck gun the most useful surface weapon for a submarine such as USS Nautilus?

Short answer

A 4-inch deck gun would be preferable.

Notes

A viewer proposes a deck-mounted 6-inch gun as the useful compromise for a submarine such as USS Nautilus. The answer favours a 4-inch weapon instead. No full calibre calculation is given, so the preference should not be expanded into a specification comparison. Coming immediately after the Surcouf discussion, the answer reinforces the value of readiness and adequate effect over mounting the largest possible gun.