Even the United States Navy depended on forward bases, while the Royal Navy had to move support across much greater imperial distances. Slow convoys carried bulk supplies to defensible hubs, faster vessels moved them toward operating bases, and local support ships completed the final leg. Replenishment at sea gives a fleet flexibility, but a port also permits crew rest, casualty handling, repair, and replacement of personnel. The relevant question is how those methods fit a theatre, not whether one makes bases obsolete.
Chapter · 2:12-4:31
Why fleets need both logistics hubs and replenishment at sea
A fleet uses a chain of defended bases, transport shipping, and replenishment vessels rather than relying on one supply method.