Walker and the captain's three command problems

Frederic John Walker provides the example of an exceptional escort-group captain whose talent for hunting submarines did not automatically make him suitable for the highest fleet command. Walker might have handled a large battle group and merited rear-admiral rank, but a higher appointment in that period is treated as unlikely. Captaincy is pictured as three simultaneous three-dimensional chess games: placing the ship in the operational space and mission, anticipating an opponent's interference, and balancing crew needs against the ship's material demands. The comparison explains why superb local command can become a specialized strength rather than proof of aptitude for every higher level.