How would receiving the Royal Navy's postwar surplus ships affect Dominion heavy industry and economic growth?
Short answerThe ships could provide status, security, or scrap, but domestic construction and the trade security they enable matter more for lasting growth.
NotesReceiving surplus Royal Navy ships after the Second World War would give a Dominion several choices. Operating them could raise status and provide the security and reach needed for wider trade, while scrapping them would release a useful stock of metal. Ships do not generate growth by their mere presence. The larger industrial effect normally comes from building hulls, yards, and supporting infrastructure, followed by the commercial confidence created when naval forces protect overseas activity.