Thames guardship duty trained Suckling as an administrator

Suckling moved Nelson with him to HMS Triumph, a guardship serving Blackstakes, Sheerness, and Chatham. Appointment as senior officer for part of the Thames Estuary made him responsible for naval discipline and the organization of Marine detachments. This was the kind of preparation given to a captain expected eventually to reach flag rank. The post also foreshadows the administrative confidence behind Suckling's later appointment to the Navy Board.