Could continuous RFA orders sustain Harland and Wolff?

Could Harland and Wolff become the main RFA builder, moving between ship types while sharing systems?

There is potential for that approach, although integrating the orders and common systems would be difficult.

The proposal would move Harland and Wolff from Fleet Solid Support ships to Bay-class replacements and later auxiliaries. Common engines and other systems could reduce the number of different installations RFA crews must learn. The answer accepts the possibility while stressing the difficulty of integrating the programme. Available land or a surviving company name does not establish active shipbuilding capacity. Swan Hunter illustrates the distinction: it retains naval architecture and specialist engineering work but no longer has a shipyard.