A gun barrel was comparatively replaceable, while a defective turret mechanism posed a deeper risk. A mounting designed for a larger gun could often accept a smaller one, but a failed mechanism might immobilize the whole investment for a long time. The Royal Navy had considered triple turrets well before Nelson and Rodney, yet continued to regard the mounting as the more consequential engineering gamble. That distinction helps explain why it preferred incremental choices even when more radical arrangements looked attractive on paper.
Notable Point · 10:35-11:58
Turret mechanisms and conservative design
The Royal Navy's caution over triple turrets reflected concern about the whole mounting mechanism, not simply the size of the guns.