“The ship regularly has to make its own parts from scratch when something breaks down. Spare parts for much of the ship, which is the only one of its class, simply don’t exist.”
There just are not as many nuclear aircraft carrier parts stores as there used to be out in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
I was a machine shop/welding shop tech. Parts fabrication capability is a huge advantage over depending on the Class IX system when you have a section full of welders & machinists who can create or copy just about anything. Not talking about aircraft parts, just what keeps your ship or your vehicles running.
At least that used to be the case. We’re (Army Reserve) still retiring forty plus year old 2 1/2 ton trucks made of solid steel that just simply refuse to die. Their aluminum successors have electronically shifted transmissions that fail if battery voltage drops below 12 1/2 v. OK, talking Army stuff instead of Navy but you get the point.
If your GPS fails you best know how to use a map & compass. Just sayin’.
Will miss the Big E.