Howe leads the line break himself

With the planned lead attack collapsing, Howe turned Queen Charlotte around Caesar and drove through the French line himself. Rear Admiral Pasley ordered Bellerophon to follow because abandoning the commander-in-chief inside the enemy formation was professionally and personally unthinkable. The two ships were briefly outnumbered by Terrible, Tyrannicide, and Indomptable before British support arrived. Howe then pressed toward the rest of Villaret's fleet, forcing the French admiral to turn back to protect isolated ships. The action demonstrates leadership by example, but also the risk of making fleet cohesion depend on subordinates following an exceptionally aggressive flagship.