The guard-ship system raises a modern problem: navies need credible reserves and a plan for expanding them. Plans that assume a peer or near-peer war will be short have repeatedly proved unreliable. Technological superiority alone cannot guarantee a quick decision. The supporting infrastructure must also mobilize, sustain, and replace forces. Preparing for a long war therefore requires reserve assets and the institutions that make them useful.
Notable Point · 26:13-27:06
Why modern navies still need reserves for long wars
Plans built around short wars are risky because peer conflicts often outlast expectations, making reserve ships, personnel, and mobilization infrastructure essential.