What would Fisher and Jellicoe tell later Sea Lords if they knew the next war's demands?
Short answerMaintain escort production, invest in Singapore, and preserve enough capital ships for three reinforced fleets.
NotesWith foreknowledge of the coming conflict, Britain could build sloops every year and avoid a desperate wartime escort program. Jellicoe's three-fleet concept would also drive stronger Singapore investment and a treaty minimum near eighteen to twenty capital ships. Six or seven capital ships per fleet would preserve reinforced battle squadrons for several theaters instead of accepting a force of only fifteen. The answer ties patient escort production, overseas basing, and treaty bargaining into one long-range plan for avoiding the emergency choices of 1939-42.