The Victorian Royal Navy was a presence force whose appearance influenced how foreign observers judged its capability. A fleet that prizes polish over gunnery practice may look formidable while being unready to fight, but a well-trained fleet allowed to become visibly shabby may fail to deter a crisis. Major powers could gather intelligence about exercises and readiness, whereas local actors often had to judge the ship in front of them. Cleanliness, maintenance, training, and adequate manning were therefore parts of the same peacetime readiness problem. Credible presence required enough resources for a ship to look prepared and to be prepared.
Notable Point · 3:47-8:40
Presence depends on readiness as well as appearance
A global navy needs ships that look credible in foreign ports without sacrificing the training and maintenance needed to fight.