The yards received only four weeks to prepare proposals for a larger revised Swift design. Requests for more time met Watts's pointed suggestion that an overworked yard might be unable to accept other forthcoming contracts. The implied loss of future work persuaded the yards to accept the deadline. Control over naval orders therefore gave the Admiralty bargaining power beyond the immediate ship.
Notable Point · 8:02-9:12
How future contracts gave Watts leverage over design deadlines
A short design deadline for Swift illustrates how the Admiralty could use future work to influence shipyards.