A comment points to Royal Navy 4.7-inch high-angle weapons already fitted before the war. These mounts did not provide the elevation needed for a complete dual-purpose answer. Their existence nevertheless makes the failure to pursue a more capable 4.7-inch system harder to dismiss as a lack of starting technology. The missed opportunity lay in turning scattered experience into a practical fleet weapon and mount.
Notable Point · 48:50-49:16
Existing 4.7-inch weapons exposed a missed opportunity
The 4.7-inch high-angle guns carried by Nelson-class battleships and the seaplane carrier Albatross show that important technical pieces already existed.