Recommissioned US Navy ships

[Legbreaker]

From the very beginning, this is a "come as you are" war; neither side is adequately prepared.

That's from the 2.2 BYB. Given that any naval shipping of note is on the bottom by mid 1997 (barely six months into the war), I just can't see any mothballed ships being available before the strategic nuke strikes in November 1997. After then, there won't be the people, nor resources to do the job.

Sure moves toward refurbishment may have started, but as has been discussed previously, there's no justification for it prior to June/July 1997 - The bulk of Pact shipping is on the bottom before then and Nato rules the waves. There's more important things to spend precious war resources on than refitting ships which in the eyes of the politicians who hold the purse strings, is completely unnecessary.

In all theatres the Pact in on the retreat in the first half of 1997 and victory can be smelt. It's only the Pact use of tactical nukes that allows them to tip the balance.