The counterfactual changes the industrial timetable as well as the technical design. An early programme would begin before the British Army's enormous demand for Western Front ammunition competed for filling plants, materials, labour, and delivery capacity. Naval shell development might therefore avoid some of the production delays experienced by the historical 1917-18 effort. This strengthens the proposed twenty-one-month schedule because the earlier programme has more calendar time and may face fewer wartime bottlenecks.
Notable Point · 49:35-50:26
Early-war shell reform faces less industrial competition
Starting the programme in 1914 could give naval ammunition priority before the Western Front imposed its heaviest competing demand for shells and factory capacity.