Judging the leading admirals of the twentieth century

Who belongs among the top admirals of the twentieth century?

Cunningham, Jellicoe, Nimitz, Mitscher, Togo, and Yamamoto all merit consideration for fleet command, while a separate influence list would include figures such as Gorshkov, Henderson, King, Sims, Fisher, and Yonai.

The command candidates span British, American, and Japanese experience, with Cunningham and Jellicoe joined by Nimitz, Mitscher, Togo, and Yamamoto. Spruance and Iachino also deserve serious consideration, while Willis Lee's exceptional battleship command did not give him the chance to demonstrate broader fleet command. A different list for institutional and design influence brings in Gorshkov, Henderson, King, Sims, Fisher, and Yonai, showing why the judging criterion matters.