HMS Birmingham: fuel economy limited practical cruiser training

Katari had never served in a cruiser when he learned that he would become INS Delhi's second in command. He handed his existing command to its executive officer and joined HMS Birmingham, an East Indies Fleet cruiser based at Trincomalee, for preparation. Birmingham spent little time at sea because Britain was economizing on fuel. The explanation links those financial pressures to the world wars, the Great Depression, and the abrupt end of Lend-Lease. Katari therefore spent much of his attachment studying ship's orders and organizational standards. The posting could teach him how a cruiser was arranged and administered, while giving him limited practice at sea.