How could the Allies resupply French ships once their distinctive ammunition ran out?
Short answerStandard light weapons could be adopted, existing American orders could cover some calibres, and dedicated production could sustain the less frequently fired battleship guns.
NotesLight antiaircraft weapons could converge on Allied 20 mm and 40 mm standards, following the same wartime standardization used on British and American ships. The United States had already received French ammunition orders, giving the Allies an existing industrial starting point for some calibres. Cruiser ammunition would be more manageable than the specialized heavy rounds required by battleships. Battleship shells posed the hardest problem, but their lower rate of expenditure made dedicated production practical if the ships were worth retaining.