2 replies to this topic

[Joseph Legan]

Played scenario 4 of the squadron battles and had a blast.  It did appear that the odds of ships following signals was low and this did occur.  This generated two questions for me:

1.  If you have ships in a line and the lead ship (flagship) turns 45 degrees can one assume the rest of the line will follow or does this have to be signaled?

2.  With ships engaged as I read it, you are down to a 50-50 chance of getting orders understood. ( 1-8 chance -2 or being engaged).  Was it really that bad that communicating was a coin toss?  I would have expected 66% chance but I have no basis for this other than it must have been worth people's time to signal. 

 

Thanks

 

Joe

[Cpt M]

1.  If the standing order in effect is to maintain the line, then you can assume the following ships would follow the lead ship.

 

2.  The 50/50 chance of having a hoisted signal understood while engaged is realistic (and may even be optimistic).  Keep in mind that during an action there will be a very large amount of smoke generated (the black powder of this period produced an enormous amount of thick, white smoke).  Add in the noise and confusion inherent in a close action, and keeping track of a signal hoist becomes a difficult proposition.

[Joseph Legan]

Thanks for the reply!

 

Joe