Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 39:32-40:19

The Virginia class's turret-on-turret arrangement

A photograph of USS Georgia prompts confirmation that the Virginia class mounted 8-inch turrets directly above its 12-inch main turrets.

8-inch Guns12-inch GunsPre-Dreadnought BattleshipsTurret DesignVirginia Class Battleships
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Question

Did the Virginia class really mount 8-inch guns on top of its 12-inch turrets?

Short answer

Yes; USS Georgia and the Virginia class used that striking superposed turret arrangement.

Notes

The Virginia class carried 8-inch gun turrets on top of the 12-inch main-gun turrets. The superposed arrangement gives USS Georgia the unusual silhouette visible in the photograph. The layout is an extraordinary example of pre-dreadnought experimentation rather than a conventional modern battery. The same sea-going image also shows the ship's casemate guns withdrawn while crossing a large ocean.