Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:41:18-1:41:50

Crash-built escorts still need trained crews

Rapidly building escorts in a major war would solve only part of the problem because each new hull also needs a trained crew.

Escort ShipsMobilisationPersonnelTraining
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Question

Would the US Navy and Royal Navy need another escort crash program if a major conflict began?

Short answer

Yes, and trained crews could become as serious a bottleneck as building the ships.

Notes

A major war in 2020 would likely have forced both the US Navy and Royal Navy into another rapid escort program. Shipyards could produce simpler hulls faster than large combatants, but new ships would immediately create a manning problem. The joking suggestion that livestream participants might receive commands points to a serious constraint: expansion needs officers and sailors with the right training. Mobilization plans therefore have to grow personnel and ship numbers together.