Repairing Royal Navy ships overseas would free capacity in British yards whether the work went to America or Australia. A developed Sydney base would have remained outside the main combat zone for much of 1939-41. Australian facilities built to British standards would also avoid difficulties translating British imperial measurements into American practice. Those advantages strengthen the expectation that Royal Navy ships would use the new yard. Repair policy could then leave additional ships available in Australia when war reached the Pacific.
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Australian yards could repair ships to British standards
A British-standard yard in Australia could relieve home dockyards and alter where ships were available before Japan attacked.