A claim that a replacement is much more powerful can support a proposal to buy fewer hulls. The availability example still needs one ship operating, one training or in transit, and one under repair. Four hulls are offered as the stronger basis for guaranteeing a continuous station, using ballistic-missile submarines as the comparison. These are planning examples rather than a universal availability formula. The later peace dividend and confidence in choosing when to fight are presented as accelerants to an earlier loss of emphasis on fleet numbers.
Notable Point · 1:58:33-2:01:01
Availability cycles limit what fewer ships can deliver
Higher combat capability does not eliminate the ships needed for training, transit, repair and a continuous station.