The improved weapon depends on redirected investment. If the Royal Navy cancels the separate 4.5-inch path, the same development money can refine 4.7-inch shells, mounts, and high-angle performance. The resulting gun is large enough to break up aircraft formations at altitude yet close enough in size to a four-inch weapon for many major refits. It is also already present across much of the destroyer force, which makes widespread adoption more plausible. The C-class and Abdiel examples show the operational reward: ships retain useful surface capability while gaining heavy anti-aircraft fire.
Notable Point · 1:03:12-1:05:19
Redirecting 4.5-inch investment into the common gun
Money and design attention historically spent on the 4.5-inch system fund the improved 4.7-inch gun and high-angle mount.