The personnel cost of nuclear cruisers also created resilience for the larger nuclear fleet. A disease outbreak could rapidly incapacitate part of a carrier's reactor department, a serious risk aboard a closed ship. Specialists from a nuclear escort would not know every detail of the carrier's reactor chemistry, but they would begin far closer to qualification than ordinary sailors. Located within helicopter range, they could temporarily reinforce essential watches while the carrier restored its own crew.
Notable Point · 1:04:07-1:05:55
Escort crews provided a reserve of nuclear expertise
A nuclear escort carried trained personnel who could reinforce a carrier's reactor watches during a disease outbreak or other crew emergency.