Who would replace Mountbatten in the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla if he were killed when HMS Kelly was torpedoed on 10 May 1940?
Short answerA senior officer within the flotilla or another experienced destroyer commander could take over, but the available personnel cannot be narrowed to a reliable name.
NotesA replacement could come from the senior officers already in the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla. Kelvin's commanding officer is suggested tentatively, but no name is established. Experienced commanders from Tribal-class flotillas or officers released by other flotilla reorganisations are further possibilities. The changing assignments after the Norwegian campaign make a precise choice difficult to reconstruct. There is a much wider pool at destroyer-command level than among available vice admirals, so an exact successor cannot be identified confidently.