The comparison cautions against judging the 1930s Royal Navy against the US Navy of 1944. Fast oiler technology, transfer equipment, and fleet requirements were still maturing late in the decade. The US Cimarron class began construction in 1938, while Britain already had six 16-knot oilers and expected more time before a Far Eastern war. British planners also had to choose between machinery for specialized support ships and machinery needed immediately for cruisers and destroyers.
Notable Point · 23:03-29:14
Fast oilers arrived late for both navies
The US Navy became the leader in underway replenishment, but its Cimarron-class fast oilers also began construction only in 1938.