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SUMMER EDITION
Admiral Nelson: Turning the Tide on Napoleon
On my walks around Iron Cove, I’ve been listening to a podcast about the Battle of the Nile. What a story! So as an end of year special, this Strategy Standoff is Nelson vs Napoleon and the Battle of the Nile.
You probably remember Nelson won this one. But can you remember how?
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You’re Admiral Nelson in 1798 and the odds are stacked against you. After a chase through the Mediterranean, you’ve found Napoleon’s fleet lurking in a bay at the entrance to the Nile Delta. The French army is now running amok in Egypt.
Your orders are to stop Napoleon, and you know that if you fail, the Mediterranean will be lost, and Napoleon’s plans for domination will roll forward unchecked. Worse, Britain will lose sea power and its own security – and it will be your fault.
Your scout reports French ships anchored in a defensive line, protected on one side by inaccessible shallow water. When you arrive at the Nile the first thing you see is the massive firepower of French flagship, L’Orient. With 120 guns it makes all your ships look small.
You have to work out how to approach this battle. Will you take the French fleet head on and risk a naval disaster? Or blockade the bay and use famed British accuracy in long range cannon fire to soften up the French and destroy their fighting spirit.
The Strategy Standoff
Strategy A: Risk The Shallows and Attack From Both Sides.
Nelson could split his fleet, sending part of it through the dangerous shallows to attack the French line from both sides. A direct attack with a bit of luck could neutralise the L’Orient before it could dominate the fight.
However, given the French firepower advantage, any failed attack or grounding would leave the British fleet in tatters.
Strategy B: Blockade the Bay and Use a Long-Range Cannonade.
Nelson could position his ships at a distance, using British longer-range gunshot to weaken the French fleet while trapping them in the bay. This would lower the risk to the British fleet from close combat, allowing them to keep distance.
But a prolonged exchange could give the French time to regroup or force an escape.
So, Which Did They Choose?
Cast your vote to find out!
Good Job, Strategy A was chosen!
Better luck next time, Strategy A was chosen!
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But what did this mean for the British...
Outcome: Facilitator Commentary
Matt Braithwaite-Young
Managing Partner
t +61 2 9002 3100
Nelson, being Nelson, went with the aggressive option. He felt superior training, experience and skills of his British sailors would win the day over the sheer French firepower.
Part of his fleet took on the massive risk of splitting his line into two – one slipping behind the French using the shallow waters. The French fleet was demolished, caught entirely off-guard with an attach from behind as well as the expected frontal attack.
Famously, as darkness fell, L’Orient - the flagship and pride of the French Navy - was blown up in one of the biggest naval explosions on record. It had 120 guns but also enough gunpowder to fire them and when the magazine caught fire, it was boom time.
In fact the L’Orient blast was so huge sailors stopped fighting sailors and later reported their surprise at seeing hundreds of Egyptian locals on the shore all painted in white light as they watched the battle with their jaws dropped.
By the end of the night, most of the French fleet was sunk or captured, Napoleon’s army was stranded, and British naval dominance in the Mediterranean was assured.
Now The Real Lesson
Historians agree Nelson’s victory wasn’t just about the crazy-bold in his strategy. It was his leadership and the morale of officers and sailors that won the battle.
Every man in the Nelson’s fleet knew the goal (find and defeat Napoleon), understood their roles, and - perhaps most importantly - believed in their mission and skills.
Loads of eyewitness tales described how Nelson was seen as stern but approachable. He gave his men clarity of purpose, and the kind of leadership they trusted. The British morale was much higher than the French, who had been neglected by comparison.
Tactics Win Battles
Remarkably, splitting of the fleet was a spur of the moment tactic led by the captain of the lead attack ship- it wasn’t part of Nelson’s strategy itself. When the captain of the Goliath spotted a slight opportunity to sneak into the shallows behind the French, he took it instinctively and split the fleet by his lead.
Thomas Foley knew Nelson would support him taking the risk of a dangerous navigation challenge because Nelson’s strategy was so clear (basically, to rely on superior training and be unreasonably aggressive).
That’s the power of alignment and clarity.
Whether you’re launching a product, entering market, or competing for share, the success is more than just about the choice you make. It’s about how you align your people behind it.
At Turning Leaf, we specialise in helping leaders make these kinds of decisions together with the people responsible for implementation. With leadership teams aligned, everyone pulls in the same direction and things get done.
Find out how we can help your business chart its course at Turning Leaf.
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