Drake, Doughty, and command cohesion at sea

The Atlantic crossing exposed Drake's ships to calms, violent storms, unreliable contact, and the continual need to replenish water and provisions. At the same time, Thomas Doughty undermined Drake's authority, deepening class tension between working seamen and gentlemen who refused shipboard labor. Drake transferred, restrained, and isolated Doughty while also burning surplus vessels whose dispersal made the squadron too difficult to control. By the time the expedition reached Port St Julian, command discipline and reducing the number of hulls had become as important as navigation or armament.