Britain's industrial position also argues against a 10-inch Dreadnought. Twelve-inch guns were available off the shelf, and 14-inch weapons were already under development. A new 45-caliber 10-inch gun first had to be designed, with an estimated delay of roughly a year, while a 14-inch triple-turret option might cost about six months. Waiting longer would produce a ship less heavily armed than foreign battleships already carrying 12-inch guns. Procurement timing, existing production capacity, and combat effect all support the documentary case against the 10-inch proposal.
Notable Point · 18:10-19:12
Gun availability made a 10-inch Dreadnought impractical
Britain had 12-inch guns ready and 14-inch weapons in development, while designing a new 45-caliber 10-inch gun could delay Dreadnought by about a year for less power.