The British sustained rates discussed here are averages over thirty minutes of firing. A Town-class 6-inch battery is quoted at eight to ten rounds per minute, while a shorter engagement can allow a faster average before the crew tires. The Belfast display about D-Day firing prompts a comparison with published tables and the possibility of a much faster initial burst. Hoist speed and the supply of shells near the guns can constrain that burst, even when the crew can load faster. Comparable-looking rate figures therefore need their duration and handling assumptions before they can be used to compare ships.
Notable Point · 6:12:41-6:18:06
Why sustained gun rates can understate a short burst
Thirty-minute averages, initial bursts, hoist limits, and crew fatigue describe different aspects of a gun's firing rate.