The review repeats its proposal to use commercial vessels and allied support to augment fleet solid-support ships in non-contested environments. That limitation matters because a merchant ship actively resupplying warships becomes part of the enemy's operational problem rather than an incidental vessel nearby. Commercial owners and crews cannot be assumed to accept that exposure, and allied ships may be committed to their own national tasks. Chartering can provide useful capacity when conditions remain permissive. A war-fighting plan still needs dedicated logistics vessels whose availability, training, and willingness to enter danger are under national control.
Notable Point · 3:29:28-3:30:37
Why wartime logistics cannot assume commercial participation
Commercial shipping can augment support in permissive waters, but vessels supplying warships become valuable targets and cannot be treated as guaranteed wartime auxiliaries.