Royal Navy efforts to rationalize destroyer and secondary armament repeatedly ran into changing requirements during the 1920s and 1930s. New technology prompted another proposed fleet standard every few years, followed by substantial orders that committed the navy to more barrels, ammunition, and support arrangements. Production ranged from well over 100 barrels for the 5.5-inch gun to thousands for other types, while capital ships also needed shells for 14-inch, 15-inch, and 16-inch guns. Improved aircraft created demand for mountings that could elevate to 85 degrees, undermining earlier choices. In the comparison with the American 5-inch/38, tighter US funding encouraged designers to wait and refine one choice. Pressure to standardize quickly could therefore increase variation and expense even when the intention was to save money.
Chapter · 1:39-6:45
Royal Navy gun standardization created more variation
Interwar attempts to select one destroyer and secondary gun repeatedly restarted as technology changed, leaving the Royal Navy with several calibres and variants instead of a simpler supply system.