Vulcan served from the Second World War into 1991, illustrating the durable utility of a well-equipped repair ship. The Japanese repair ship Akashi also made sense within a doctrine oriented around drawing the enemy back. Forward attritional actions still wore down destroyers, consumed torpedoes, and risked scarce experienced crews before the decisive battle. A repair platform could keep crucial small ships in the operating area and avoid losing them to a long return journey.
Chapter · 1:56:26-1:59:08
USS Vulcan and Japanese forward repair
USS Vulcan's long service and Japan's Akashi demonstrate how forward repair capacity protected destroyer readiness and scarce experienced crews in Pacific operations.