Vickers was already advertising aircraft alongside HMS Princess Royal before World War I. Its range of products gave it an industrial interest in both naval weapons and aviation. Guns able to reach farther would create demand for a way to see the enemy at those distances. A company working in both fields could propose aircraft as part of the solution and put more money into their development.
Notable Point · 3:21:14-3:22:25
Vickers aircraft and long-range gunnery
Firms already selling both warships and aircraft could pursue aerial spotting to make longer-range guns useful.