ME:
Got to keep the cap. ships fleet in being, don't you understand?
No doubt what the Vichy French told themselves when they parked theirs at Oran. I would contend that the RN has shown somewhat more willingness to put theirs at risk than others. That policy has failed spectacularly at times it is true but long term has paid off. I rather suspect that they would have reverted to type in this scenario, though handing themselves on a plate to the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine would not accord with that tradition.