Ammunition conversion was a practical fleet-management problem rather than an all-or-nothing upgrade. The battlecruisers and Fifth Battle Squadron receive priority because they are the fast forces most likely to meet the enemy. The newer 15-inch weapons also had the smallest stock of obsolete ammunition to replace, making them a practical first production run. HMS Canada and the 13.5-inch-gun squadrons follow before production works down to the 12-inch ships. Failure modes also differed by calibre: some 12-inch shells could pass through without exploding, while larger shells often detonated prematurely or broke apart.
Notable Point · 1:03:05-1:05:29
Which British capital ships would receive new shells first
The likely issue order puts battlecruisers and the Fifth Battle Squadron ahead of the wider fleet, then works down through gun calibres and stocks.