Duncan, Admiral King, and Philip Vian illustrate the difference between a flagship's formal command structure and its day-to-day command climate. The flag captain remains master of the ship, while the admiral is theoretically a guest who commands the fleet. That division preserves the captain's responsibility for the vessel even when a senior officer and staff are embarked. In practice, an admiral with exceptional personality and presence can make the flagship feel unmistakably like the admiral's ship, whatever the formal division of authority says.
Notable Point · 8:22-9:28
Flagship authority between captain and admiral
Duncan's flagship prompts an explanation of formal captaincy, an admiral's nominal status as a guest, and the practical power of a dominant flag officer.