Replacement ships also require yards and skilled crews

Australia and New Zealand lacked sufficient yards, while the conquered Dutch, Norwegian, and Polish navies had lost secure access to their home populations and industry. Finland retained its territory but had to prioritize a long land frontier and an active war with the Soviet Union, especially while Germany appeared to supply allied naval strength. These different national cases all made replacement hulls difficult to obtain. More ships alone would not solve the problem because fleets also needed experienced chiefs, officers, navigators, and training systems capable of producing skilled crews.