Holding such ships back could be rational because each Glen concentrated nearly 1,100 troops and 27 landing craft in one hull. Losing a ship would remove soldiers, stores, boat crews, and the means to land other parts of the assault force at the same moment. The risk therefore concerned the shape of the whole operation, not merely the replacement cost of a merchant conversion. A modern container ship adapted on the same principle might carry a brigade or even a division. Greater commercial capacity would make the concentration problem more severe by placing still more combat power inside one vulnerable hull.
Notable Point · 45:23-47:03
The danger of putting an assault force in one hull
A single Glen carried nearly 1,100 troops and 27 landing craft, making protection and dispersion central amphibious-planning problems.