Wartime folklore about British and American destroyers describes crews keeping a selected engine running so the ship could leave port quickly. Fuel, boilers, and machinery remained ready even when the propeller was not being driven. Repeatedly choosing the same reliable engine could leave it running from commissioning until a later service without a true shutdown. That readiness practice created a wear history far more severe than the ship's age would suggest. If machinery was too large or inaccessible to remove intact, the practical remedy could be to dismantle and rebuild much of it inside the hull.
Notable Point · 18:32-21:08
Wartime readiness can consume one engine's life
Use the destroyer anecdote to see how keeping one engine warm through repeated port visits could preserve rapid readiness while creating highly uneven wear.