Why navies standardized propellants and explosives

Did navies choose different propellants and explosive combinations for different uses?

Yes, but over time they increasingly standardized materials and varied quantities to support industrial-scale production.

Early navies could use a wide variety of propellant and explosive combinations. That diversity was especially common while shell manufacture still resembled a cottage industry. As ammunition production industrialized, navies increasingly standardized the materials and varied their quantities for different effects. The change supported volume production, consistent supply, and more predictable handling across the fleet.