Arthur Wilson's likely technical priorities

Wilson's experience with battleships, HMS Vernon and the experimental torpedo squadron makes guns, turrets and torpedoes plausible priorities for his research budget. His industrial connections suggest a route to funding Elswick's 14-inch 45-calibre gun. His preference for a high volume of heavy fire also supports trials of Vickers triple turrets. On a pre-dreadnought, a three-gun turret at each end could fire its own ranging salvo. Earlier work on 21-inch torpedoes could strengthen destroyer armament, while the 18-inch weapons mentioned alongside them were intended for submarines. Funding begun in 1900 would not put the 14-inch gun into service by 1902, though development could be underway when Wilson left office. The proposed change funds technology once a company knows it can build it, before the company has paid to prove that it works.