Britain's submarine and frigate availability provides a modern comparison for the interwar yard problem. In this assessment, limited maintenance infrastructure is a major source of the backlog. Dry docks and repair facilities deteriorate without regular use, and restoring them takes more than nominal upkeep. When too few ships are available, a navy may defer maintenance to cover deployments, consuming hull life and adding to later repair demand. Fleet totals therefore give an incomplete picture unless enough skilled people and facilities can keep the ships in service.
Notable Point · 1:38:12-1:39:42
Why maintenance capacity matters to British fleet availability
A contemporary British example links limited repair capacity to reduced submarine and frigate availability and shorter hull life when maintenance is deferred.