Revisiting wartime guns and a 5.25-inch Daring alternative

Which Second World War anti-aircraft gun would be chosen for a return to service?

The candidates include the 5-inch/54 and 76 mm weapons, with particular support for developing the 5.25-inch gun aboard postwar destroyers.

The 5-inch/54 technically entered service during the Second World War, while several 76 mm weapons are also attractive candidates for revival. The 5.25-inch gun receives particular support as an overlooked option. A counterfactual fit would give the Daring destroyers an upgraded 5.25-inch upper-deck mounting in place of their 4.5-inch guns. The argument is that this choice would probably have kept the larger calibre in British service to the present. The square-cube relationship gives the larger shell an advantage over the 4.5-inch round. This is a proposed alternative development path, not the Darings' actual armament.