Alexandria's defenses could challenge the ironclads on paper, but the attacking squadron had highly trained crews. HMS Inflexible was commanded by John "Jacky" Fisher, a future First Sea Lord, while Charles Beresford commanded the smaller HMS Condor. Their ships show how training and experienced command could turn nominal weapons and armor into effective combat power. The passage also separates the popular label gunboat diplomacy from the smaller sloops and gunboats that routinely carried out imperial policing and local presence missions.
Notable Point · 14:40-15:37
Training, ironclads, and the practical gunboat
Alexandria pairs the combat value of trained ironclad crews with the everyday policing role of smaller sloops and gunboats.