[Award Winner] Cartographical Economics and Demographics - A Guide to Realism

[Ghostman]

I would contest that Athens would of had 200 standing triemes all the time.

AFAIK ships were stored in military shipyards when they weren't needed, so they definitely wouldn't be "standing", but were readily available when the need arose.

I believe at the time that during periods of wars and potential invasions i.e. Salamis that merchant ships were rented, commandeered etc and enlisted into the navy for that period.

They probably would be commandeered, but they would serve as supply and transport vessels. Merchant ships do not make efficient warships.

In the same way I would pressume that Athens did not have a standing naval manpower of 40,000 men, but that civilians were supplemented into navies

Ancient Greek military in general consisted of civilians. The Romans were pretty much the only ones* who created something approaching an actually professional military system; other peoples only employed professional soldiers as the elite units of their armies.

(* Of the time and place)