Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Notable Point · 40:45-43:16

Ammunition outfits reveal the air war a ship expected

A Tribal destroyer's 14,000 pom-pom rounds and Vanguard's smaller per-gun Bofors allowance point to different assumptions about sustained AA combat.

2-Pounder GunsAmmunition OutfitsBofors 40 mmHMS VanguardNaval AmmunitionNaval Anti Aircraft WarfareNaval DoctrineNaval LogisticsPom Pom GunsRate Of FireSustained FireTribal Class Destroyers (1936)
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Notes

The Tribal class carried an official 3,500 pom-pom rounds per barrel, or 14,000 rounds for a quad mounting, reflecting expectations of prolonged defensive engagements. By comparison, HMS Vanguard's allowance was a little over 1,200 rounds per Bofors, below the roughly 1,500-round standard cited for many British installations and the U.S. figure of about 2,000. These figures measure more than generosity because different numbers of mounts, firing methods, and planned roles changed total demand. Ammunition outfit is therefore evidence for the concept of war behind a ship as well as a practical limit on its endurance.