Lord George Germain fragments the war effort

Lord George Germain's management weakened coordination of Britain's American war. He resisted collaborative planning, favoured politically connected appointees, and disrupted established working methods. The Admiralty wanted transports to sail in convoys after earlier experience of merchant losses, while Germain preferred independent sailings. Capable officers remained available, but the command system did not consistently send or support Britain's strongest team. French intervention struck a war effort already divided over how to conduct operations.