The elaborate armament of Bismarck and Tirpitz reflects the problem of a surface raider that may meet whatever forces an opponent can send. A ship operating alone cannot assume that escorts will defeat cruisers, destroyers, aircraft, or other capital ships for it. Designers can rely on numerous dual-purpose guns and continually prioritise among threats, or fit separate anti-cruiser, anti-destroyer, anti-aircraft, and heavy-target weapons. Specialist batteries give each weapon a clear job, but they also leave the ship with more types of gun and ammunition to manage.
Notable Point · 23:17-25:33
Why independent surface raiders accumulate guns
Ships expected to operate alone need weapons for more kinds of threat, helping explain the complex batteries of Bismarck and Tirpitz.