The retention proposal addresses experienced sailors who need senior posts and greater family stability. Ships in ordinary would keep small cadre crews in port, then add reservists for a full wartime complement. Those billets could preserve seagoing career experience while offering more regular hours. Dr. Clarke illustrates the idea with a family's account of a grandfather posted to reserve destroyers at Chatham in the 1930s after having twins. He contrasts that story with a later naval couple who left after having children. Reserve ships would also give reservists practical training platforms and create extra fleet capacity for overseas commitments.
Notable Point · 2:36:46-2:41:34
How ships in ordinary could improve Royal Navy retention
Cadre crews on reserve ships are proposed as a way to retain experience, support families, and train reservists.