A flagship's crew supported the admiral's staff while operating the squadron's principal warship and logistical hub. Formal Royal Navy staffs were still developing during this period. Senior officers could rely on wives, daughters, and nieces for correspondence, meeting arrangements, and social administration in an unpaid informal capacity. Those duties make the flagship's accommodation and administrative space part of its operational value.
Chapter · 10:41-12:26
A Victorian flagship carried command, logistics, and informal staff work
Nelson had to support an admiral's command and correspondence as well as fight, at a time when Royal Navy staffs were still becoming formal institutions.