The TA system and safe maneuvering

The TA system grew out of the limits of flag-based command. Flag signals required a slow cycle of hoisting an order, waiting for every ship to repeat it in acknowledgement, and lowering the flags to execute it. Tryon proposed the simple TA signal, broadly instructing captains to follow their leader and act with judgment. His memoranda put the safety of a ship first and directed captains to preserve an order's object only when they could do so without collision or danger. Queen's Regulations also required the crossing ship with the other vessel on its starboard side to keep out of the way when collision risk existed. Tryon feared that officers trained only to follow detailed orders would be unable to make decisions when they later became admirals. Victoria's loss exposed whether the fleet had learned to balance an admiral's intent with a captain's duty to keep a ship safe.