During a line battle, firing first is largely a psychological tactic. Unless the opposing forces are very close, even a blind or drunken gunner wouldn't miss. Typically, the first salvo is more about boosting one's own morale and intimidating the enemy fleet than actually aiming accurately.
If your first salvo at a distance of thirteen thousand meters results in a near miss... either the enemy ship has an excellent gunner, astonishingly good luck, or is equipped with a highly advanced targeting system, and at worst, all three apply...
It's terrible.
None of these options are welcomed by the Duchy fleet's officers and soldiers.
As a technical branch, the navy should be the most devoted to science, but in reality, whether at sea or in the air, the navy is highly superstitious, even more so than the army. Naval officers firmly believe that the outcome of a naval battle is actually determined by various unpredictable factors, which somehow are all related to one thing: luck.
