Stewart distinguishes an unsupported superweapon from reinforcement built into a fleet's institutional depth. An admiral arrives three days late with ships activated from reserve when the main force believes no more hulls are available. Their appearance depends on a reserve system capable of making stored capacity operational and moving it to the battle. For real and fictional navies, reserve policy converts peacetime maintenance and mobilisation arrangements into combat power when a crisis exhausts the active fleet.
Notable Point · 40:29-41:16
Reserve activation turns readiness into combat power
A late-arriving admiral can credibly alter a battle when the extra ships come from maintained reserves rather than a surprise superweapon.