Norway brought the Royal Navy into sustained conflict with land-based air power while treaty-limited carrier numbers weakened the desired outer fighter screen. Before enough purpose-built weapons arrived, available 4-inch high-angle guns offered the quickest fleet response while higher-angle 4.7-inch and new 4.5-inch systems matured. HMS Gurkha's charge toward an attacking formation illustrates a destroyer maneuvering to bring both its 4.7-inch guns and pom-pom into useful range, drawing the attack away from merchant ships at fatal cost. Ships fighting together created interlocking AA coverage, but ammunition expenditure was severe. A Tribal engaging only part of a large raid could consume more than half its official pom-pom outfit in roughly fifteen minutes, forcing commanders to balance disruption, killing fire, and endurance.
Chapter · 54:09-1:02:19
Norway exposes the demands of fleet air defense
Combat in Norway showed the value of interlocking shipboard fire and how quickly even 14,000 pom-pom rounds could disappear.
2-Pounder Guns4.7-inch Guns4-inch GunsAircraft Carrier ShortageAmmunition ExpenditureDestroyer TacticsFleet Air DefenceHMS GurkhaInterlocking Fields Of FireLuftwaffeNaval AmmunitionNaval Anti Aircraft WarfareNaval TreatiesNorwegian CampaignPhilip VianPom Pom GunsRoyal NavyTribal Class Destroyers (1936)Troop Evacuation