Explanations for Glorious's movements are difficult to accept when they require several officers to disregard different chains of command at once. The interwar Royal Navy remembered the losses caused when officers freelanced during the First World War and had strong institutional reasons to punish similar behaviour. Political favour might still bring promotion, but the service could limit an officer's influence through a distant or unimportant appointment. Henry Harwood's treatment after the Battle of the River Plate shows how blame from the Royal Air Force and Army could damage a naval officer's position. A plausible divergence must fit the institutions and incentives of the period.
Notable Point · 1:31:58-1:33:32
Glorious, command culture, and Harwood
Royal Navy memory of First World War command failures makes Glorious theories that require many officers to disregard separate chains of command less plausible.