The expanding technical and aviation organization increased Eagle's complement from the earlier total of 791 to roughly 753 sailors plus 250 airmen. That growth made the converted carrier comparable in personnel scale to a much larger modern naval unit. After the 1932 refit, personnel shortages prevented an immediate workup and limited the extent of performance testing. Readiness depended on manpower because improved boilers, weapons, and fire-control equipment still required enough trained people to operate the ship.
Notable Point · 45:19-46:21
A larger carrier organization meets a manpower shortage
By the early 1930s Eagle required about a thousand sailors and airmen, and personnel shortages delayed her post-refit workup despite the ship's technical improvements.