The Dutch fleet assembled De Ruyter, the Evertsens, De With, several rear admirals, commodores, and senior captains under one nominal command. Rank did not erase personal hostility, party allegiance, or loyalty to the admiralty that supplied each flotilla. Compared with the Commonwealth fleet's less crowded command structure, this abundance of senior personalities created a force that resembled a coalition. Coordination depended on negotiation precisely when the battle demanded an authority accepted across regional forces.
Notable Point · 1:40:59-1:45:40
A fleet that behaved like a coalition
The Dutch force brought multiple senior officers and regional flotillas together, creating a command problem closer to coalition warfare than a unified fleet.