Royal Navy constructors kept designs in development before a particular ship received funding. The Third Sea Lord could shape the options offered to the Sea Lords and guide them toward a preferred design. The same office then carried the choice through the Treasury and parliamentary scrutiny, with approval for spending often taking longer than selecting a design. Once construction began, yard plans based on the Admiralty design gave the Director of Naval Construction and Third Sea Lord further opportunities to introduce changes. Control over several stages of procurement gave the office considerable influence, including over Henderson's plans for an auxiliary with light-carrier capabilities.
Notable Point · 51:15-53:38
How the Third Sea Lord shaped naval procurement
The Third Sea Lord's office connected design selection, Treasury approval, parliamentary scrutiny, and yard construction, giving it unusual influence over which concepts reached service.