Opening the distance would protect the modern ship from the older guns, but it would also make enemy ships and their individual parts harder to see. That trade-off limits how much of the 14-inch battery's theoretical reach can be used effectively. The safest possible range is not automatically the best firing position. Useful range still depends on keeping the target visible enough for deliberate aiming.
Notable Point · 15:08-15:19
Visibility limits the useful firing range
Too much distance protects the ship but makes enemy vessels and specific components harder to see.