Conning towers exposed a recurring tension between protection and situational awareness. They could be heavily armoured, yet British captains and admirals often wanted to observe directly instead of commanding from an enclosed space. At Jutland, Jellicoe's staff repeatedly tried to draw him back inside while he sought a view of the action. An armoured command position could therefore remain tactically unattractive despite its much better physical protection.
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Why commanders left the conning tower
Armoured conning towers promised protection, but commanders often preferred a position from which they could actually see the battle.