By 1939 the Royal Navy had an alphabetical force system alongside its standing global divisions and squadrons. Force K's intended movement toward the River Plate shows how Ark Royal, Renown, destroyers, and local cruiser forces could be folded into one larger command. The local South Atlantic Division did not disappear as a useful source of ships and expertise; it would be absorbed under the force commander for the operation. This helps explain why Britain had less incentive to adopt the American decimal system. Its task forces were especially ad hoc additions to a long-established worldwide administrative network.
Notable Point · 2:09:37-2:17:21
Britain's alphabetical forces absorbed local commands
British lettered forces could assemble standing local divisions into an ad hoc higher command without replacing the global network of squadrons and divisions.