Q&A ยท 4:04:05-4:04:38

Surviving Invincibles could enter reserve before Indefatigables

A wartime manpower counterfactual asks which surviving battlecruisers could release crews for escort service before the First World War ended.

Question

If all six Invincible- and Indefatigable-class battlecruisers survived, would Britain place them in reserve before the First World War ended to free crews for escorts?

Short answer

The Invincibles probably would enter reserve; the Indefatigables probably would not, although readiness could be reduced without formally withdrawing ships from availability.

Notes

The answer distinguishes the older Invincible class from the Indefatigables. Surviving Invincibles would probably enter reserve before the war ended, while the Indefatigables would be more likely to remain available. The Royal Navy could also reduce a ship's readiness without formally placing it in reserve. That would let the service lower its commitment to older ships while still listing them as available.