Admiral Henderson as a wartime First Sea Lord

How might the Royal Navy change if Reginald Henderson lived longer and became First Sea Lord?

He could plausibly replace Pound after a sea command, sustain carrier procurement across the war, and prepare the postwar fleet around Malta-class carriers. That would let Cunningham concentrate on the fleet command he preferred.

One possible career path takes Henderson from Third Sea Lord to the China Station in late 1939, then back to replace Pound as First Sea Lord. An available successor might also make Pound more willing to retire when his health deteriorated. Command of Force H is another possibility, given Henderson's experience as the first Rear Admiral, Aircraft Carriers and his familiarity with operating several carriers together. His political and procurement strengths would complement Cunningham's preference for fleet command. Late in the war, Henderson might slow Audacious-class construction and accelerate Malta-class carriers to prepare a fleet suited to the postwar budget. That approach would include deciding which ships to retain and which to sacrifice when spending fell. Cunningham's changing opinions of Town-class cruisers and Tribal-class destroyers illustrate a different strength: making effective operational use of ships whose original designs he had questioned. Henderson's continued involvement could preserve procurement contacts and policy across more than a decade.