Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:43:06-1:43:33

Would triple 8-inch turrets require a wider hull?

A larger barbette could demand more beam, but moving the forward magazines and turrets aft might absorb much of the design penalty.

Naval ArchitectureNaval GunneryTriple TurretsWarship Design
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Question

Would triple 8-inch turrets require a wider hull and therefore reduce cruiser speed?

Short answer

Possibly, but moving the battery aft into a naturally wider part of the hull could keep the penalty modest.

Notes

A larger barbette for triple 8-inch turrets might force a wider hull and reduce speed. The historical twin-turret arrangement, however, already pushed its magazines far forward. Moving the forward battery slightly aft would place it where the hull was naturally broader and could limit the additional beam required. This remains a design judgement, and the alternative would still carry weight and structural costs.