An army timetable differs from the variable condition of a fleet. Ships carry much of their own logistics, but storms can damage them and major maintenance may leave engines, turrets, or funnels removed in dry dock. Restoring a stood-down battalion is a demanding administrative task; returning a dismantled warship to service can require months of engineering work. The Royal Navy therefore relied on flexible strategic intent rather than a single rigid mobilization schedule.
Notable Point · 19:32-21:22
Why naval readiness resists a fixed timetable
Weather, maintenance, and the material state of individual ships make naval mobilization less predictable than moving an army to a rail schedule.