Weapons that can be fitted across numerous small hulls take priority over capital-ship guns. The proposed reserve includes every usable four-inch gun, including several barrel lengths, along with two-pounders, three-pounders, and six-pounders. It also includes mountings and shells because a stored barrel alone cannot arm a ship. The weapons could equip Flower-class corvettes, trawlers, and other escorts during a future mobilization. Preserving older models trades peak performance for immediately usable numbers.
Notable Point · 4:49-6:26
Stockpiling complete light-gun systems
Four-inch guns, smaller weapons, mountings, and shells are treated as complete systems that could arm large numbers of future escorts and auxiliaries.