The personnel argument is compared with assembling the 10th Destroyer Flotilla before D-Day, after German Schnellboote, or E-boats, had penetrated major exercises. Protecting the invasion justified drawing the best suitable destroyers from anywhere in the Allied fleets, including Tribal-class ships. The same role-first logic applied when choosing officers from active and retired lists. A complication was that exceptionally senior retirees sometimes preferred convoy duty, removing themselves from the reserve available for major staff or command vacancies.
Notable Point · 44:42-48:31
D-Day destroyer selection explains wartime officer choice
Like selecting ships for the D-Day screen, the Navy chose active and retired officers according to the specific role and the best talent available.