Most of the crew are essential for battle-ready underway operations. Some are not - depends on their department and rating.
Getting underway with a "skeleton crew" was Navy SOP in my day. That was the purpose of "duty days". Still, that doesn't mean the ship is battle ready with such a small percentage of the crew. It's purpose was to get the ship out of an enclosed harbor (kill zone) into open sea to fight another day. A lesson learned with our carriers at sea during Pearl.
Am I wrong regarding today's Navy?
“how many of the crew are still still readily available”
550 have tested positive out of 3,500 tests given. They still have almost 1,500 to test.
But only about 100 are actually down sick and would not be able to man their station.
As for today’s Navy...I believe the Chief’s mess is still keeping them tight and ready. That’s where all the traditions and discipline is passed between generations and generations, going back to the Great British Navy. Centuries.
Not even Obama and Pelosi could kill that.
And I pity the poor bastards that will be burned or eaten by sharks when they think it’s time to take a shot.
They will live a short but exciting life once they decide to take on the US Navy at sea.
“Am I wrong regarding today’s Navy?”
My Dad, retired O6/USNR, proudly showed me a picture of a few members of a destroyer crew.
I, former E5/USNR, was aghast!