Rodney commanded the 74-gun HMS Dublin in Edward Hawke's force for the Rochefort raid. Hawke assembled aggressive naval officers, while General John Mordaunt repeatedly delayed a decision on landing. Mordaunt eventually withdrew because he believed the fleet was needed against a French force arriving from the West Indies. Hawke maintained that another British fleet already held that responsibility, and James Wolfe joined the naval officers pressing for action. Their incompatible command tempos left a promising expedition unable to exploit its opportunity. The failure exposed the importance of agreed responsibilities and decisive joint command in amphibious warfare.
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Command friction stalls the Rochefort raid
Hawke and Wolfe pressed to act at Rochefort, while Mordaunt's concern over fleet cover exposed incompatible command tempos and stopped the landing.