What was the thinking behind sending Warspite and destroyers down the Narvik fjord?
Short answerHe frames Warspite as command control as much as firepower: the admiral wanted to go in personally and keep aggressive destroyer captains from overextending.
NotesOther options, including a cruiser, had been considered before Warspite went in. The admiral wanted to control the action personally and restrain destroyer crews seeking revenge after earlier losses. The decision was therefore a leadership and risk-control problem as well as a question of battleship firepower.