Alex regards British command doctrine as less tightly controlled than Japanese practice, with greater freedom to exploit fleeting opportunities. He still acknowledges that Japanese captains retained freedom once in command of their ships. British destroyer instructions encouraged independent torpedo attacks, while the box system placed ships around a target and required others to fill gaps. During the night harassment of Bismarck, destroyers had to recognize those openings without revealing their positions through radio or signal lamps. Repeated attacks depended on shared practice and the judgment of comparatively junior officers.
Notable Point · 1:09:14-1:12:01
The Royal Navy's decentralized night-fighting culture
Destroyer torpedo doctrine and the box system illustrate how British night tactics delegated major decisions to captains and junior officers.