 Aviation was not neglected . Plans called for an air force of 18 flying boats , 18 reconnaissance fighters , 18 torpedo bombers and 18 single @-@ seat fighters to protect them . Royal Air Force airfields were established at RAF Tengah and RAF Sembawang . The Chief of the Air Staff , Air Marshal Lord Trenchard , argued that 30 torpedo bombers could replace the 15 @-@ inch guns . The First Sea Lord , Admiral of the Fleet Lord Beatty , did not agree . A compromise was reached whereby the guns would be installed , but the issue was reconsidered when better torpedo planes became available . Test firings of 15 @-@ inch and 9 @.@ 2 @-@ inch guns at Malta and Portsmouth in 1926 indicated that greatly improved shells were required if the guns were to have a chance of hitting a battleship . 
