Final answer:
The revolving turret on warships allowed for greater flexibility and firepower in naval warfare, enabling guns to be turned and fired independently of the ship’s orientation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advantage of having a revolving turret for the guns on warships, such as the ones on the HMS Dreadnought, was a significant innovation in naval warfare. Prior to the introduction of rotatable turrets, ships had fixed gun positions which meant they could only fire in a straight line off the side of the ship. This required maneuvering the entire ship to aim the guns, which could be cumbersome and slow. The introduction of the rotatable turret allowed guns to be turned independently of the ship's movement, giving them the ability to track targets more accurately and fire in multiple directions without having to rely on the ship's orientation.
This revolutionary design meant that turreted ships could bring their firepower to bear on an enemy more quickly and efficiently. The broadside tactic, where ships would pass each other to fire, became less critical. Instead, with turrets, a ship could continually aim and fire its guns while maintaining its course or maneuvering for tactical advantages. It also meant that ships like the HMS Dreadnought could have larger, more powerful guns, which would not be practical if they had to be mounted to fire in a fixed direction.
The exponential increase in firepower and flexibility offered by the revolving turret system significantly changed naval engagements, contributing to the rise of dreadnought battleships as the dominant force in naval warfare during the early 20th century.