Naval leaders.

[Orm]

What are your favorite naval leaders?

I feel like reading up on some naval heroes, admirals or captains. Or other persons who have had a significance in the maritime warfare history. Maybe you can help me out by making a list with five or so of your personal favorites. It would be nice if you could mention why you like him as well. All epochs are welcome.

[warspite1]

Good question:

Horatio Nelson - The battles of the Nile, Copenhagen, Trafalgar et al. I find reading about that period can be a little difficult, but as a commander, battle winner, bravery beyond comprehension, and all round hero, he takes pride of place; quite. simply. numero. uno [&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

Raymond Spruance - I know he gets it in the neck in some quarters for his decision at The Philippine Sea, but I think unfairly. He was s top man in my book [&o][&o][&o]

Andrew Cunningham - For his handling - against the odds - of the Mediterranean Fleet in WWII. Always trying to take the battle to the Italian/German forces; but above all for his refusal to abandon the army in Crete [&o][&o][&o][&o]

Philip Vian - Is there anything he didn't put his hand to? WWI, WWII, destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers..would love to read more about this guy [&o][&o][&o]

Chester Nimitz - The right man, in the right place, at the right time. Never afraid to make hard decisions, trusting of his subordinates, and a good military brain [&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

[sabre1]

Francis Drake

[warspite1]

Then of course there are those lower down the command chain worthy of mention, amongst them:


Capt Sherbrooke - Battle of the Barents Sea - kept his destroyers between two German heavy cruisers and the convoy he was protecting
Capt Warburton-Lee - Battle of Narvik - took on a superior force of German destroyers during the battle for Sweden
Lt Cdr Wanklyn - Mediterranean (Submarines)
Cdr Miers - Mediterranean (Submarines) - both aggressive and successful submarine commanders
Capt Fegen - Atlantic - bought time for his convoy by putting his auxiliary merchant ship in harms way against the Admiral Scheer
Lt Wilkinson - Pacific - took on Japanese heavy cruisers with his little gunboat
Lt-Cdr Prien - for his audacious attack on the Royal Oak at Scapa Flow
Lt-Cdr Hartenstein - for his chivalrous behaviour after sinking the Laconia
Captain Langsdorff - a disobedience of orders cost him his ship and his life, but he was a successful captain and a humane individual too.
Captainb Welding-Olsen - who brvely challenged the German fleet heading for Oslofjord and got away warning rockets ahead of the attack

[Titanwarrior89]

The NCO's and Officer's in the firerooms and engineering spaces that kept their men at their station during battle, not knowing what was going on top side....That is a Leader Gentelmen.[&o]

[SuluSea]

Marc Mitscher-- So many leaders to admire during WW 2 but this Admiral sticks out IMO-
 
"He spoke in a low voice and used few words. Yet, so great was his concern for his people — for their training and welfare in peacetime and their rescue in combat — that he was able to obtain their final ounce of effort and loyalty, without which he could not have become the preeminent carrier force commander in the world. A bulldog of a fighter, a strategist blessed with an uncanny ability to foresee his enemy's next move, and a lifelong searcher after truth and trout streams, he was above all else — perhaps above all other — a Naval Aviator." --> Arleigh Burke

[Orm]

Thank you for the suggestions. I will try to read up on them all. [:)]