The Bismarck class battleship did not have 16-inch guns due to a combination of factors, including a strategic decision to counter the French and Italian 15-inch gunned battleships, the desire to fit the guns within the 35,000-ton treaty displacement limit, and potential design and logistical issues with 16-inch guns. While 16-inch guns were the maximum allowed by naval treaties like the Washington Naval Treaty, Germany chose to go with an 8-gun, 15-inch (38 cm) armament for their Bismarck-class

Step inside the gun turret of the museum’s 38 cm SK C/34 – a giant from WWII. #kristiansandkanonmuseum | Kristiansand kanonmuseum