Marshal Soult reaches bombardment stations under tow

Marshal Soult had more reliable engines than her sister, but poor steering and low speed still constrained operations. After Erebus and Terror arrived, one of the newer monitors could tow Soult toward a bombardment position. Bacon warns that the method would have been difficult to justify against a more active enemy. Towing also slowed the whole squadron during long North Sea movements on short summer nights. Good guns, officers, and crew kept Soult useful despite the operational cost of retaining an underpowered specialist ship.