New destroyers are ready, but the fleet lacks free crew while many older ships remain active on distant stations. Selected nineteenth-century warships and an older 13.5-inch-gun battleship enter mothballs, releasing personnel for the modern force without immediately scrapping the hulls. Allies may later offer to buy reserve ships. Mothballing therefore preserves disposal options while improving current readiness.
Notable Point · 3:24:24-3:32:03
Mothballing old ships to crew new destroyers
Older warships enter mothballs so their crews can commission new destroyers, showing personnel rather than hulls as the binding fleet constraint.