Sfax conducted sea trials off Brest from 17 January to 7 June 1887, then joined Mediterranean Fleet maneuvers before entering reserve. Nineteenth-century navies distinguished the ships needed for daily presence from the much larger fleet they expected to need in war. Some kept roughly half their hulls "in ordinary," with skeleton crews preserving machinery and the ship itself. War or a major exercise brought a captain and reservists aboard. This system conserved service life while giving the fleet periodic chances to test mobilization.
Notable Point · 23:58-26:35
Why new warships spent years in reserve
See how nineteenth-century navies preserved new ships with skeleton crews and mobilized reservists for war or major exercises.