Q&A · 3:21:12-3:21:42

How Ernest King might have imposed discipline on Constellation

King's likely contribution would have been blunt mission definition and a consistent design philosophy, not revival of an old wartime bureau.

Question

If Admiral Ernest King were put in charge of the Constellation program, how quickly would he restore the Bureau of Ordnance?

Short answer

He probably would not restore the bureau, but he would state clearly what the frigate was for and enforce a consistent procurement and design philosophy.

Notes

In this counterfactual, Ernest King would leave the Bureau of Ordnance unrestored. His imagined contribution would be to state plainly what the Constellation programme was meant to produce. He would insist on a consistent design philosophy and follow it once adopted. This is a conjecture about King's response to the programme, rather than an event in his career.