The Royal Navy already had high-angle mountings and power rammers for some capital-ship installations, but did not turn that experience into its standard destroyer system. Treaty-driven weight savings and confidence in current surface performance kept the familiar mounts attractive. Small savings looked rational because planners believed the sacrificed air-defense capability would not matter. Reducing a Tribal-style battery to six guns could have released weight for powered high-angle mountings.
Notable Point · 48:22-52:56
The missed high-angle future of the British 4.7-inch
Existing high-angle 4.7-inch technology suggests Britain could have traded gun count for a stronger dual-purpose destroyer mounting.