Royal Navy staff strength cannot be measured only by counting officers formally assigned to an admiral. A flagship supplied communications personnel, technical officers, and other specialists from its own company. Squadron engineering officers and the flag captain could also perform staff functions while retaining their ship or squadron duties. That flexible pool challenges the claim that the service lacked capable staff organization before the Second World War. The same structure supported extensive diplomatic work across the Indian Ocean stations.
Notable Point · 12:00-15:54
How a flagship expanded an admiral's working staff
A small formal staff could draw on the flagship's officers, signal specialists, and squadron experts, making an afloat headquarters larger than its official list implied.