Cradock's impossible command choice

The closing question places the viewer inside Cradock's information environment instead of judging him with hindsight. It begins at the start of the campaign, asking where he should position the squadron and how he should interpret messages from Churchill, Sturdee, and the Admiralty. Sending Otranto away might have restored speed but reduced an already outnumbered force, while keeping her made escape and tactical control less likely. Cradock also did not know that Fisher had changed the reinforcement plan or that Defence had finally been ordered toward him. Admiralty failures had left him without a good solution.