It is at least arguable, however, that no one could. Unless he could have cut off the Ark Royal and her two companions that Monday morning off Tor Bay it is hard to point out a mistake he made which affected the outcome of the campaign. It can be argued that all his other decisions, including the decision to anchor at Calais and the choice of the route home, were as sound as his personal conduct was courageous.

Garrett Mattingly, The Defeat of the Spanish A…, loc. 843