Ship availability depends on repair infrastructure that can actually be used. Neglected pumps, gates or lining can leave a nominal dry dock unable to support maintenance. Spare floating-dock capacity could support allied and commercial work as well as British ships. Auxiliaries create a related access problem when vessels hired out for NATO support are no longer available to Britain first. Both cases require attention to who can use a support asset when it is needed.
Notable Point · 44:32-56:35
Dry docks and auxiliaries as serious capability
Usable dry docks and dependable access to auxiliaries determine how much of the fleet can operate.