How large a Royal Navy could Britain have maintained after World War II?
Short answerMore could have been maintained if required, but demobilisation and the transition back to a volunteer force created a severe manpower and skills crunch.
NotesThe post-war Navy had to release huge wartime forces while still supporting global commitments and rebuilding a volunteer service. Several cohorts left at different points, taking skills with them at the same time that civilian industry competed for labour. The strategic environment made that contraction tolerable, but the personnel shock was still real.