Large multi-gun turrets concentrate enormous firepower, but they also concentrate risk. French ships used two forward quadruple mountings to maximize fire ahead within tonnage and size limits. Losing one mounting removes half of an eight-gun battery, while damage around one closely packed magazine may also impair the neighboring turret. Firing arcs and gun count therefore have to be weighed against the fraction of the battery exposed to a single hit.
Notable Point · 9:35-11:04
Why two all-forward quadruple turrets concentrate risk
A compact eight-gun battery maximizes forward fire within size limits, but one disabled mounting can remove half the ship's firepower.