Scapa Flow's water area did not remove the need for a landward and coastal supply network. Coal arrived by special trains, while oil required additional arrangements to reach the ships. The difficulty of getting oil to the anchorage formed part of the logic for moving the oil-burning Fifth Battle Squadron to Rosyth in support of the Battle Cruiser Force. Fuel distribution could therefore shape fleet deployment even when a harbour was strategically well placed.
Notable Point · 19:39-20:10
Fuel supply constrained Scapa Flow's wartime usefulness
Special coal trains and separate oil arrangements sustained the isolated anchorage, while difficulty moving oil north helped make Rosyth attractive for the Fifth Battle Squadron.