An archived design can document an alternative investigated to establish why it should be rejected. Proposed American-gun refits of the Nelson class illustrate the danger of treating every surviving drawing as a construction intention. More than two dozen Nelson refit options are described for 1941-1944, varying the numbers and arrangements of 5.25-inch, 6-inch, 4.5-inch, 5-inch/38, and 5-inch/54 guns. Comparing those alternatives helped identify an affordable increase in fighting effectiveness. It also equipped naval staff to explain to politicians and the Treasury why an apparently attractive proposal was impractical.
Notable Point · 2:37:30-2:40:03
Why an archived warship design may never have been intended for construction
Nelson's many proposed refits tested affordability and supported arguments against proposals as well as preparing ships for construction.