TL/DR: "Never mind manoeuvres, always go at them."
TL/DR: "Never mind manoeuvres, always go at them."
Originally shared by The British Library
Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. This memo, written by Lord Nelson 12 days before the battle, explains the basis of his tactics to engage the combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies.
The logbook which records the moment of Nelson's death is also held at the British Library and simply states 'Nelson died' when he was shot by a French musketeer during the battle. http://bit.ly/2eqyIzg #TrafalgarDay
"Never mind manoeuvres, always go at them." Ie No plan survives contact with the enemy.
ReplyDelete"No captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy."
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrLQq1Zbw68
ReplyDeleteBut a good example of how good advice can turn into foolish idioms.
ReplyDeleteThis only worked because Nelson was completely versed in the relative strengths of the opposing fleets. Like a football coach who, after watching 100 hours of tapes concludes the winning offense, will be to run up the middle against an undersized line; Nelson knew that the superior discipline of his crew, and the superior rate of fire of his gunners would offset the superior sailing qualities and superior long range firepower of the French if only he could get in close.
Without that, his tactic would have been foolish.