The larger guns were the class's central advantage over its predecessors. With long-range gunnery expected to dominate, the battle line again appeared to offer the best way to present maximum broadside firepower. This confidence made the likely result look almost arithmetical: the side bringing the most guns to bear should win. Orion shows how a tactical expectation could shape a whole class layout even though naval combat could never be reduced to a gun count.
Chapter · 10:51-13:17
13.5-inch guns and the return to battle-line firepower
Orion's 13.5-inch armament increased broadside weight and reflected a belief that long-range engagements would reward the side that concentrated the most guns.