Q&A · 42:04-42:25

Yamato could plausibly carry twelve 16-inch guns

Replacing Yamato's 18-inch battery with 16-inch weapons could permit a twelve-gun armament without sacrificing speed.

16-inch Guns Battleships Imperial Japanese Navy Naval Gunnery Yamato Class Battleships

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Question

How many 16-inch guns could Japan realistically fit on Yamato?

Short answer

About twelve while maintaining broadly similar speed and other characteristics.

Notes

Twelve guns is a plausible maximum if Japan wanted to preserve the design's other performance characteristics. A smaller caliber could trade individual shell weight for a larger broadside.