The experience of the Second World War had shown that a wide-area naval headquarters should not sit aboard a ship whose combat role could disrupt the staff. Vice Admiral William Andrewes therefore flew his flag in HMS Ladybird rather than a frontline cruiser or carrier. The vessel carried communications equipment comparable to a cruiser and also supported ships from eight Commonwealth navies. Command arrangements and logistics were combined in one platform, freeing fighting ships to concentrate on their own missions. The example shows coalition warfare depending on headquarters capacity as much as on the combat power of individual ships.
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HMS Ladybird as a Commonwealth command and logistics hub
A dedicated command vessel let Vice Admiral William Andrewes direct dispersed Commonwealth forces without burdening a frontline combatant and supported ships from eight navies.