Force V established the cruiser flagship for escort-carrier groups

Force V combined four escort carriers, the maintenance carrier Unicorn, three light cruisers, and nine destroyers for air support off Salerno. Euryalus was the formal flagship, but aircraft maintenance and detailed air-planning expertise remained aboard Unicorn, splitting the staff across two ships. A cruiser provided more bridge and operations-room space than the small carriers and allowed the admiral's team to maneuver the formation and coordinate fighters away from flight-deck noise. Vian toured the carriers by boat in an old captain's jacket, and one pilot complained freely about the admiral's arrangements without recognizing him, giving Vian an unfiltered view of operating friction. The arrangement became a Royal Navy model for later escort-carrier task groups, although Vian's frequent visits exposed the inefficiency of divided expertise.