R-boat and minesweeping commands served an institutional purpose beyond operating small craft. Junior officers gained practical command experience there, while officers who later rose to senior Kriegsmarine rank could develop inside formations less constrained than the treaty-limited major fleet. The Reichsmarine deliberately kept a large officer cadre in preparation for rapid expansion. The tradeoff was an organization that preserved leadership depth while becoming comparatively light in experienced non-commissioned officers.
Notable Point · 23:06-25:09
R-boat flotillas as an interwar officer training ground
Minesweeping flotillas let the treaty-limited Reichsmarine preserve officer experience and prepare its organization for rapid expansion.