Wartime naval employment falls into first-, second-, and tertiary-line duties. First-line ships handle the primary fleet battles, while second-line forces escort convoys and patrol waters where surface raiders may appear. Tertiary work includes troop transport, amphibious support, counter-piracy, and maintaining a presence in regions that remain quiet only because a warship is there. New Tiger Cubs would not automatically release every older cruiser for disposal once war began, since even obsolete combatants could free modern ships from necessary low-threat tasks.
Notable Point · 41:55-43:50
How a large navy assigns first-, second-, and tertiary-line duties
The Royal Navy retained almost any serviceable hull in 1914 because major battle, convoy protection, and low-threat presence each demanded different levels of ship.