One advanced destroyer cannot occupy five stations

A destroyer described as five times more capable than its predecessor can still occupy only one station. A four-ship illustration allocates roughly one ship each to deep refit, training, deployment, and work-up or return from operations. The proportions are approximate and assume a relatively unhurried peacetime cycle. Shortage of hulls is then linked to compressed three-ship rotations and inadequate maintenance time. Extra Type 45s are proposed as a way of meeting tasking with less interference in engineering work. Rust on American ships is attributed here to competing deployment and training demands that leave too little time to paint, rather than to captains ignoring upkeep.