The Royal Navy expanded from roughly 134,000 people to about 800,000 while operating thousands of ships and absorbing heavy losses. Its wartime fleet included scores of capital ships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines alongside thousands of smaller craft. That growth required experienced officers to administer personnel, bases, supplies, and commands across the world. The same scale also wore out some of the people whose knowledge was most valuable, producing recall and retirement at the same time.
Notable Point · 1:57:32-1:59:16
Wartime expansion multiplied the demand for senior experience
Fleet and personnel growth explains why the Royal Navy simultaneously recalled veterans and exhausted serving leaders.