 The Naval War College in its 1905 Newport Summer Conference considered the 3 @-@ inch ( 76 mm ) guns fitted to the South Carolina class too light for effective anti @-@ torpedo @-@ boat defense . A committee on this issue formed during the conference suggested that a gun with a high velocity and flat trajectory would work best — one powerful enough to smash an attacking vessel yet light enough for easy handling and rapid firing . For this purpose , the committee found 5 @-@ inch guns appeared best suited . During the Delawares ' design , C & R considered 6 @-@ inch ( 152 mm ) guns but concerns voiced by the Naval War College about the lack of heavy splinter protection for these guns and smoke uptakes led to an adaption of 5 @-@ inch / 50caliber guns to balance the increase in armor weight . 
