Why future escort vessels may be optionally crewed

How might artificial intelligence shape naval warfare?

Future small escorts may be optionally crewed and automate navigation or station-keeping, but remain under human tasking because peacetime accountability limits independent action.

Corvette-sized auxiliaries or wingmen could add missiles, guns, and sensors to a crewed formation. They may manage routine movement, sea-state response, and station-keeping themselves. A nearby crewed ship would still provide tasking and command rather than releasing an independent combat agent. Legal and political responsibility makes that supervised, optionally crewed model much easier to use in peacetime than full autonomy.