What kind of First Sea Lord would Oliver Cromwell have made?
Short answerA highly efficient and forceful administrator whose organization could strengthen the Royal Navy rapidly and make war with the Dutch more decisive.
NotesOliver Cromwell would probably make the Royal Navy efficient very quickly if placed in a First Sea Lord-like role. The counterfactual rests on Cromwell's demonstrated ability as an organizer and administrator rather than on specialist seamanship. A later follow-up argues that the same administrative drive would make the Anglo-Dutch Wars short, sharp, and painful for the Dutch. The answer treats institutional organization as a source of fighting power capable of changing a campaign before tactical command at sea begins.