Mitscher preferred, Fletcher respected, and Halsey criticised

Which American admirals do you rate highly, and who could have done better?

Marc Mitscher is the preferred admiral, Frank Jack Fletcher is rated as a good officer, and Halsey is judged capable of doing better on several occasions.

Marc Mitscher is the preferred American admiral, and Kenneth Reynolds's Fast Carriers is offered as a useful introduction. William Halsey could have performed better on several occasions, while Frank Jack Fletcher is judged a good officer. The wider comparison notes that the United States entered the war later than Britain and could keep senior officers in demanding posts without the same six-year accumulation of exhaustion. Command performance therefore reflected personal ability, assignment, and the duration of sustained high-intensity service.