1 reply to this topic

[Neil Foster]

Afternoon all,As I am relatively new to naval gaming, one question has arisen. How to change formation. If all units have to move as the flag ship, then its impossible to change from line abreast to line astern. Or do the ships simply vary there speed and course to achieve the desired formation?CheersIggy.PS can a MOD move this to GQIII's Q&A please.

[W. Clark]

Afternoon all,As I am relatively new to naval gaming, one question has arisen. How to change formation. If all units have to move as the flag ship, then its impossible to change from line abreast to line astern. Or do the ships simply vary there speed and course to achieve the desired formation?CheersIggy.PS can a MOD move this to GQIII's Q&A please.

The line ahead formation is all about control. The division/squadron commander needs and wants to control where his ships are. And because the primary means of intra squadron signaling was still flags (supposedly repeated by searchlight) at this point; having to spell out every intent is cumbersome to say the least. So, he puts his ducks in line ahead and they follow him where ever he goes.

The commander has two primary means of changing direction; turn in succession (or turn where I turned) or a simultaneous turn (or we all turn onto a new heading at the same time; this requires a signal to the squadron). The primary reasons for turning simultaneously are to avoid an immediate threat (let us comb those torpedoes together) or to go into quarter line to avoid the effects of funnel smoke on the squadron's gunnery. Squadrons could and did reverse course simultaneously (becoming line astern) to avoid an immediate threat from the front. But, line astern, line abreast (primarily a search formation) and quarter line impact on the commanders control and he will want to get back into line ahead when the need for these other formations had expired.

The pressure on ship captains to maintain station in any navy is the stuff of legend and the quickess way onto a Rear Admiral's short list of people he disapproves of is to fail to keep your place in the line. All the above and more is the reason for the rule. Or to put it another way; there's the right way, the wrong way and the Admiral's way which is the only right way.