Mediterranean fighting turns barrel wear into a supply chain

Intense Mediterranean operations could use up Pom-Pom barrel life in less than a week, with ships needing replacements after only a few trips. Crews changed barrels aboard ship and handed the worn ones into store. Relining then required shipping them back to Britain, heating the barrels, removing their worn liners, and fitting replacements. The old liners could be melted down for reuse, while the reconditioned barrels had to travel outward again. Available spares therefore affected a ship's readiness and limited how quickly the fleet could adopt the latest barrel model.