The final lesson is about matching commanders to tasks rather than declaring them simply good or bad. Beatty's weak coordination with superiors and subordinates damaged his performance in larger formations. Against one visible enemy, the same independence and desire for glory could keep him moving despite confusing orders. The counterfactual asks readers to look for other commanders whose notorious traits might become useful under a different operational demand.
Notable Point · 1:18:35-1:19:25
A flawed admiral can fit the right mission
Beatty's independence, aggression, and preference for a direct ship fight become assets when the mission is a single-minded pursuit rather than fleet coordination.