A ship could remain in ordinary for years before receiving a crew when the fleet needed more hulls. This system separated ownership of useful hulls from the peacetime cost of keeping every one commissioned. Once HMS Warrior no longer dominated the battle line, her surviving capabilities still suited cruiser, overseas-presence, and secondary duties rather than immediate disposal. A warship's remaining mission matters more than how it compares with the newest ship in its former category.
Chapter · 0:28-4:24
How ships in ordinary gave navies more depth
The traditional reserve system kept uncommissioned ships available and reassigned aging vessels to secondary roles as frontline standards changed.