Naval Units at Close Range

[K K Rossokolski]

Pretty well all the points made here are correct, but I think one word has been underemphasised...Tarawa. The reason the shells, fired at shorter range and hence flatter trajectory, skidded is because Tarawa is flat, as is Kwajalein and the other atolls. Very little "geometric verticals" to stop the shell. Not so islands such as the Okinawa group, the Marianas, nor further west .....Italy.
The major problem at Tarawa was that it was the first of the great amphibious assaults...much was still to learn. I agree with Ed's view...this is a matter of little import, based seemingly on information from one report relevant to a specific place with certain unvarying geographic shape.
It ain't broke, therefore why fix it? Change for change's sake, seems like to me.