Vian worked alongside Louis Mountbatten during the Norwegian operations, when Mountbatten was proving highly effective as a destroyer flotilla captain. The explanation offered for his rapid promotion is that senior authorities feared the consequences of losing an officer connected to the royal family. Moving him into wider appointments reduced his exposure to danger but left him without the experience or preparation those roles demanded. In this assessment, concern for his safety took precedence over matching appointments to his abilities.
Notable Point · 47:30-48:31
Mountbatten's destroyer success complicated his promotion
Mountbatten's success as a destroyer commander accompanies an argument that concern for his royal connections pushed him into wider responsibilities before he was ready.