Changes

==20th century==

==20th century==

[[File:Animated gun turret with labels.gif|thumb|right| An animated naval gun turret, based on a British 15 inch turret Mark 1. The figure represents a person 5 ft 8 in high (172 cm).

Key: 1 - Platform deck;

|[[File:Animated gun turret with labels.gif|700px|right|An animated naval gun turret, based on a British 15 inch turret Mark 1. The figure represents a person 5 ft 8 in high (172 cm). Key: 1 - Platform deck; 2 - Shell room; 3 - Lower deck; 4 - Magazine; 5 -Middle deck; 6 -Trunk; 7 - Main deck; 8 - Barbette; 9 -Working Chamber; 10 - Upper Deck; 11 - Roller path; 12 - Cradle;13 - Gunhouse]]

2 - Shell room;

3 - Lower deck;

4 - Magazine;

5 -Middle deck;

6 -Trunk;

7 - Main deck;

8 - Barbette;

9 -Working Chamber;

10 - Upper Deck;

11 - Roller path;

12 - Cradle;

13 - Gunhouse]]

 

Armor was the central issue by the late 1880s. If any one factor can be isolated as stimulating developments of the later years of the 19th century--improved materials (wrought-iron and then steel), increases in size, improvements in projectiles, mechanization, and improved powder--it was the necessity of penetrating armor, which was itself also rapidly improved. The ranges of guns were also being greatly increased.  

Armor was the central issue by the late 1880s. If any one factor can be isolated as stimulating developments of the later years of the 19th century--improved materials (wrought-iron and then steel), increases in size, improvements in projectiles, mechanization, and improved powder--it was the necessity of penetrating armor, which was itself also rapidly improved. The ranges of guns were also being greatly increased.