Taking command of Force H after France's collapse

France's surrender forced Britain to reconfigure Force H against the danger posed by hostile surface forces. Somerville received the command with HMS Hood as his first flagship, although he later moved among several ships. He had returned from tuberculosis only months earlier and then spent about two years leading a demanding operational force. His strengths lay in strategy and technology, while his conscience made some assigned missions personally abhorrent. He regarded such actions as dishonorable and still carried out the command effectively. The command tested both his endurance and his conscience.