Rodney distributed reliable senior officers across his fleet before the Saintes, addressing the weakness exposed at the front of his line at Martinique. Samuel Hood commanded the van, Edmund Affleck reinforced Rodney's centre, and Francis Samuel Drake commanded the rear. James Saumarez and Taylor Penny held opposite ends of Drake's division, providing capable leadership whichever end went first. After the action of 9 April damaged Hood's van, Rodney reversed the order for the battle on 12 April and brought Drake's fresher division forward. Penny's Marlborough, previously at the rear, consequently led the line and opened the battle. The reordering depended on having officers at both ends whom the rest of the division would follow.
Notable Point · 1:41:09-1:45:40
Reversing the fleet's order before the Saintes
Reliable officers at both ends of Drake's division allowed Rodney to reverse the fleet's order while repairs continued on Hood's damaged van.