The government continued the conversion of "Tiger" and "Blake" after deciding on further ship cuts and a faster phase-out of carriers in 1968. However, during the conversion of "Blake" the plan was changed to allow the cruisers to operate four of the more capable Westland Sea King helicopters, although only three Sea Kings could actually ever be accommodated and serviced in the longer hangar which extended further into the main structure of the ship, and greater cost and forcing the replacement of the side 3-inch gun mounts (which fire arcs were now too restricted) with much less effective Seacat guided weapon system. The low priority given to deterrence of Soviet submarines in the Northern Atlantic by the MoD is reflected in the decision to convert a suitable anti-submarine helicopter platform, the carrier "Hermes" into an amphibious carrier. The suggestion of the captain of the aircraft carrier in 1966 that "Bulwark" and the other light fleet carriers be developed for the 'cruiser' role, carrying Hawker Siddeley Harrier VSTOL aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters, as well as troop- and commando-carrying helicopters was rejected despite the argument their capacity was under-utilised. The later advent of the s would seem to add weight to this proposal. "Hermes" and "Bulwark" were larger, and offered better silencing and hangar capacity. The government's priority was to arm aircraft in West Germany with tactical and thermonuclear weapons and, secondly, amphibious support of the British Army in Norway. Provision of nuclear depth charges for anti-submarine, aircraft carriers and destroyers and frigates was limited and late, although approval to wire all the , and ships for triggering NDB was given in 1969, and frigates and destroyers offered quieter listening platforms than the old "Tiger"s.