Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:00:33-1:02:29

Why did HMS Formidable have two captains?

Formidable carried both a ship captain and a flag captain because Rodney needed staff capacity to direct a 36-ship fleet.

HMS FormidableNaval CommandNaval Staff WorkRoyal Navy
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Question

Why did HMS Formidable have two captains?

Short answer

One ran the ship while the flag captain supported Rodney's fleet command and acted much like a chief of staff.

Notes

The second captain was not required by the ship's firepower. One captain could concentrate on Formidable as a ship while the flag captain helped Rodney manage a 36-ship fleet. Flag lieutenants and additional officers provided further staff capacity around the admiral. The arrangement shows that age-of-sail flagships could separate tactical fleet direction from routine ship command. It also qualifies the idea that naval staff work began only with later formal staff colleges.