Did wartime exhaustion weaken the postwar officer corps?

Did the Royal Navy suffer postwar shortages of experienced officers because wartime service had worn them out?

Partly. Many capable officers continued to serve, but some were exhausted or broke down, so appointments had to balance experience against personal endurance.

The postwar service still retained capable leaders after both world wars. At the same time, some good officers were genuinely exhausted or suffered breakdowns. The institution therefore had to balance retaining experience against the health and endurance of individuals. Personnel strain helps explain unexpected command turnover on distant stations.