Future design histories in the hands of the Third Sea Lord

What might Admiral Henderson change if he received Norman Friedman's later design histories while serving as Third Sea Lord?

Likely changes include 16-inch King George V battleships, deck-edge lifts for carriers, faster 4.5-inch gun development, larger Dido-type cruisers, and earlier attention to fighters over the fleet.

The answer uses hindsight to isolate several recurring Royal Navy design problems rather than simply proposing a single super-ship. Henderson could press for 16-inch capital-ship guns, deck-edge carrier lifts, and an accelerated 4.5-inch dual-purpose programme. Building Dido-class cruisers on a larger Leander-derived hull could improve stability and capacity. Knowledge of the Hunt-class difficulties and the importance of fighters over the fleet would redirect effort before wartime experience forced the changes.