Cross-deck (naval terminology)

More commonly, a core group of experienced personnel may be cross-decked to a new ship to allow the vessel to come to full readiness more quickly.

For example, during WWII, carrier task groups might suffer more severe attrition in a single carrier air group, leaving an under-utilized support crew (which, unlike air crews, generally do not suffer casualties unless the ship itself is attacked).

Re-distribution of air-group units allow the individual carriers in a group to better use the fixed assets of each ship (hangar space, maintenance crews, repair facilities, etc.).

In turn, when Enterprise suffered damage, part of its air group operated temporarily from Henderson field on Guadalcanal (though technically not a "deck") and contributed in the sinking of the battleship Hiei.

This may be a direct prelude to a landing operation or in a preliminary stage of a power projection mission as a show of force.

With the development of aircraft (especially helicopters) the distances involved in cross-decking operations could be greatly increased with ships that were widely dispersed.