Why peacetime utility and wartime strength belong in one warship

In this argument, a warship must earn its keep in peacetime while retaining deterrent and combat power. Splitting those functions between utility ships and fighting ships would leave the combat fleet exposed to treasury pressure because it appears unnecessary between crises. The likely result would be one or two true fighting ships alongside many vessels barely adequate for their routine tasks. Civilian crewing rules and public-private arrangements could further limit how quickly the utility vessels entered dangerous waters.