The high cost of sustaining a major army or fleet does not remove the need to plan for a long conflict. Destroyers and submarines sent around the world still require tenders, supplies, and maintenance capacity. Converting cruisers and other viable hulls can provide that support more cheaply than building every tender from scratch. Existing propulsion, internal space, and some protection also make converted warships more survivable than a lightly built commercial substitute. The Royal Navy's concern that an enemy might attack its tenders shaped the appeal of those conversions.
Notable Point · 1:24:16-1:25:30
Converted tenders as affordable long-war preparation
Converting viable cruisers into tenders saved money, supplied the space small combatants lacked, and offered some protection if an enemy attacked the support fleet.