Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:30:03-2:30:50

An earlier Royal Navy adoption of the Oerlikon

Evaluating the Oerlikon in 1934 could replace weak machine-gun defenses before wartime limitations became undeniable.

Anti-Aircraft GunsNaval Air DefenceOerlikon 20 mmRoyal NavyWorld War II
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Question

What if the Royal Navy evaluated the Oerlikon 20 mm in 1934 alongside the United States?

Short answer

Earlier adoption could replace weak Vickers machine-gun defences, although no definite entry-into-service date is supplied.

Notes

An earlier Oerlikon evaluation could reduce the Royal Navy's dependence on Vickers machine guns for close-range air defence. Those weapons are judged barely adequate in 1939 and inadequate by 1940. The Vickers model and its development history are disputed during the exchange, with the dates recalled uncertainly. No firm Oerlikon service-entry date is given.