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The phenomenon of ‘hot pockets’ in magazines was already known about, and it was further recommended that the readings of fixed-temperature tubes should not simply be accepted as the temperature of the whole magazine. It was noted that when cooling apparatus was in use, the difference between temperatures registered by the thermometers in different parts of the magazine became accentuated. It was suggested that the circulation of cold air in their immediate vicinity unduly affected temperature tubes in certain positions in the magazines.

Amongst a whole raft of findings and recommendations it was noted that when turned to the storage position in the magazines, the lids of the smaller calibre brass flashproof cordite cases were often found to be loose – and in some cases to have fallen off altogether.

It was further noted that in Vanguard, coal sacks were stowed in fuel spaces adjoining the P and Q turret handling rooms. These fuel spaces had no ventilation when the access hatch was closed – as was normally the case. One of the 3-inch thick bulkheads to these fuel spaces actually formed the bulkhead between it and a 4-inch cordite propellant magazine (which was being used as a 12-inch magazine at the time) and a 12-inch shell room. Here, favourable conditions for a spontaneous combustion were produced if the 3-inch thick bulkhead became heated to a dangerous degree unnoticed. The court recommended that in all ships arrangements should be made such that a considerable rise in temperature in any compartment adjoining a magazine or shell room must be discovered within two hours.