Q&A · 3:16:45-3:17:10

Did the Royal Navy consider a shower tender?

The Royal Navy considered a dedicated shower tender, then chose the simpler solution of fitting showers aboard the ships whose crews needed them.

Question

What unusually specialized auxiliary ship did the Royal Navy consider?

Short answer

It considered a shower tender, but ultimately fitted showers aboard individual ships instead.

Notes

Most specialist auxiliaries answer an understandable need, but the Royal Navy's proposed shower tender stands out as an unusual case. The service ultimately decided to install showers on individual ships instead. The proposal illustrates the recurring choice between concentrating a support function in one tender and distributing it across the vessels being supported. Here, distribution proved simple enough to remove the need for a separate hull.