What naval historians learn from commanders' families

Would meeting the families of the commanders discussed improve the research?

Yes; relatives can supply unique context, provided their recollections are clearly distinguished from archival and multi-source evidence.

Family conversations can reveal details absent from archives and published scholarship. Those recollections still need to be distinguished from claims supported by several academic or archival sources. A live lecture can signal the difference by identifying an archival reference, naming the number of supporting sources, or stating when only one account is available. Family testimony can enrich naval history without being treated as conclusive by itself.