Q&A · 3:55:47-3:56:27

Nelson commanding the Grand Fleet

Nelson would probably retain the distant blockade in 1914 because Jellicoe's basic strategy was sound.

Question

What would Nelson do if placed in command of the Grand Fleet in World War I?

Short answer

He would probably maintain the distant blockade because Jellicoe's strategic approach was already correct.

Notes

Nelson is expected to retain the Grand Fleet's distant blockade. Jellicoe's basic decisions are defended, with his limited information traced to failures among his subordinates. Replacing him would not repair that flow of reports. Nelson historically had Collingwood, so giving him Beatty instead would change the command relationship on which the comparison depends.