Howe needed 101 ratings borrowed from other ships to operate as a fleet unit during the May 1948 cruise with Anson. Exercise Dawn included torpedo and bombing attacks, anti-submarine work, and repeated changes of course. The battleships carried no main-gun ammunition, and trainees continued their classes during the exercises. Fuel economy was strict enough that Howe's log recorded special permission to exceed economical speed, although she appears not to have passed eighteen knots. On the return voyage Howe refuelled three Battle-class destroyers at sea. This continued a British Pacific Fleet practice from 1944-45 that allowed short-endurance destroyers to remain with the task force longer. Howe then returned the borrowed men and entered a lengthy refit, while Anson continued with the training squadron.
Notable Point · 1:27:32-1:29:35
Anson and Howe train the fleet under fuel and manpower restrictions
Postwar battleships supported exercises and refuelled destroyers even while crews, ammunition, and fuel were tightly constrained.