main battery

Generally used only in the terms of naval warfare, the main battery is the primary weapon around which a ship was designed. "Battery" is in itself a common term in the military science of artillery. The main battery included all turret guns in ships with gun turrets. Battleships and cruisers were designed around their main battery turrets, while smaller guns were mounted wherever convenient. Turret ships included a secondary battery originally intended for defense against torpedo boats. In ships without turrets, the main battery included all guns except depth charge projectors and guns designed for use against aircraft. Guns designed for use against aircraft were referred to as the anti-aircraft battery.