What changes would have improved Britain's anti-submarine fleet before and during the Second World War?
Short answerBegin mass-producing versatile sloops much earlier, match them to destroyer construction, and prepare merchant hulls for rapid escort-carrier conversion.
NotesThe proposed programme would build inexpensive, treaty-exempt sloops steadily from 1928 and keep usable ships in reserve. One sloop would accompany each destroyer ordered, producing an annual escort flotilla alongside the destroyer flotilla. Those ships would support minesweeping and anti-submarine work while remaining within the stated speed and armament restrictions. The intention is to have a substantial escort force available before wartime demand exposes the shortage. Suitable merchant ships would also be built with rapid conversion into escort carriers in mind.