A plausible Tiger counterfactual needs a reason for naval policy to change. Frederick Field's three years as Third Sea Lord gave him time to develop a longer view, whereas predecessors' brief appointments left less opportunity to settle policy. His preference for F3 over N3 is tied to the possibility of a future war far from Britain. Such a war would require heavy ships able to project power worldwide at speed. That strategic preference supplies an institutional reason to consider retaining and improving Tiger.
Chapter · 24:50-27:12
Frederick Field links design policy to worldwide force projection
Field's longer tenure and preference for F3 provide a policy setting in which a faster, more heavily armed Tiger could make sense.