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66 Sayurusara 2021 June
The ‘Line of Battle’ Strategy of battleships was not like a column of sailing ships. With
greater range and improved fire control, gunfire from most
Personal inspiration of Admiral Horatio Nelson, of the ships on each side could reach most of the ships on the
whose matchless victories at the battles of the Nile, opposite side. The advantage was worked out mathematically
Copenhagen (1801), and Trafalgar (1805) drew the enduring in what were called the ‘N- square law’ and the ‘square law
admiration of naval tacticians. Tactical study during this era of attrition: success would build on itself, so that any small
concentrated on maneuver. ‘Breaking the line’ of the enemy advantage at the outset of an engagement would compound
fleet was one aim, because this broke the enemy’s tactical in favour of the superior force.
cohesion and made it possible to overwhelm individual ships
by bringing greatly superior force to bear on each of them in US Navy Battleships USS Iowa Fires a
turn. Aim of this method was to break enemy fleet to parts in Column (1920s) full Broadside
(usually 2-3) and or doubling (concentrating force by putting
ships on both sides of the enemy line). Doubling could also A positional advantage was added to this firepower
be achieved by portion of friendly units moving to the other advantage by maneuvering the fleet to ‘cross the T’ of the
side whilst attacking the enemy aft. Doubling the enemy fleet enemy. That is, if its own column crossed in front of the
very often led to decisive victories. enemy column at a right angle and with the ships at the head
of the enemy column within range of its guns. From this
position at the top of the T, all the guns of the fleet could
fire upon the head of the enemy column, while only the first
enemy ships could return fire.
Adm Horatio Nelson’s HMS Victory: ‘Breaking the Crossing the ‘T’ Tactic
French-Spanish Line’ in the Battle of Trafalgar (1805)
The Age of Steam Power and Big Gun
“A good gun causes victory, armour only postpones Remarks
defeat.” Russian Vice Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov
Tactics and technology complement each other, As initial reckonable war out at sea using ‘Galleys’;
and there is no better period in history for studying their sheer power dominated the outcome, and maneuver of
interrelationship than the shift from sail to steam power numerous small ships, much as on land, contributed to its
in the 19th century thanks to Industrial Revolution in concentration. In warfare under the sail, great firepower could
Europe. The shell gun which was raised to naval attention be concentrated in individual ships, and doctrine, formations,
during the Crimean War by the Battle of Sinope in 1853 and signal flags were means of controlling the slow-moving,
which compelled navies to adopt to all-metal hulls of iron wind-constrained formations. With battleships, steam power
and then steel, which in turn demanded the installation of gave freedom to maneuver in any direction, and the range of
rifled, breech-loaded guns of major calibre to effectively the big guns allowed a concentration of fire from the whole
hit this steel hulled ships. Concurrently, iron boilers and formation. The defensive element came to prominence,
screw propellers made steam propulsion practical and gave symbolized by armour (hull). Tactical decisions had to
great new freedom of maneuver. Navies were unrestrained be made before the enemy was in sight, so that scouting
tactically from the wind, but only at the strategic price of (gathering info) became more evident as a tactical ingredient.
having to remain within steaming range of coaling stations Control had to be exercised over much greater distances,
(re-fueling). which expanded the possibilities of exploiting the means
of control, notably through radio direction finding and code
Again, after a considerable period of peace out breaking. The growth in the tactical influence of scouting,
at sea, a tactical–technical turning point came from the anti-scouting, command and control, and countermeasures
observation of few battles in East Asia at the end of 19th against command and control continued through the era of the
century. The new technology was the fire control, which aircraft carrier and into the era of the guided missile. These
enabled major-calibre rounds to be placed on target at elements have become as important to tactical success at sea
5, then 10, and ultimately 15 Nautical miles. A column as firepower, consuming comparable thought and resources.
Lieutenant Commander(G) DDK Dayananda, RSP, MEng(NWST), MAIR, BNS
Commander Rapid Action Boat Unit & RTT3
The ‘Line of Battle’ Strategy of battleships was not like a column of sailing ships. With
greater range and improved fire control, gunfire from most
Personal inspiration of Admiral Horatio Nelson, of the ships on each side could reach most of the ships on the
whose matchless victories at the battles of the Nile, opposite side. The advantage was worked out mathematically
Copenhagen (1801), and Trafalgar (1805) drew the enduring in what were called the ‘N- square law’ and the ‘square law
admiration of naval tacticians. Tactical study during this era of attrition: success would build on itself, so that any small
concentrated on maneuver. ‘Breaking the line’ of the enemy advantage at the outset of an engagement would compound
fleet was one aim, because this broke the enemy’s tactical in favour of the superior force.
cohesion and made it possible to overwhelm individual ships
by bringing greatly superior force to bear on each of them in US Navy Battleships USS Iowa Fires a
turn. Aim of this method was to break enemy fleet to parts in Column (1920s) full Broadside
(usually 2-3) and or doubling (concentrating force by putting
ships on both sides of the enemy line). Doubling could also A positional advantage was added to this firepower
be achieved by portion of friendly units moving to the other advantage by maneuvering the fleet to ‘cross the T’ of the
side whilst attacking the enemy aft. Doubling the enemy fleet enemy. That is, if its own column crossed in front of the
very often led to decisive victories. enemy column at a right angle and with the ships at the head
of the enemy column within range of its guns. From this
position at the top of the T, all the guns of the fleet could
fire upon the head of the enemy column, while only the first
enemy ships could return fire.
Adm Horatio Nelson’s HMS Victory: ‘Breaking the Crossing the ‘T’ Tactic
French-Spanish Line’ in the Battle of Trafalgar (1805)
The Age of Steam Power and Big Gun
“A good gun causes victory, armour only postpones Remarks
defeat.” Russian Vice Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov
Tactics and technology complement each other, As initial reckonable war out at sea using ‘Galleys’;
and there is no better period in history for studying their sheer power dominated the outcome, and maneuver of
interrelationship than the shift from sail to steam power numerous small ships, much as on land, contributed to its
in the 19th century thanks to Industrial Revolution in concentration. In warfare under the sail, great firepower could
Europe. The shell gun which was raised to naval attention be concentrated in individual ships, and doctrine, formations,
during the Crimean War by the Battle of Sinope in 1853 and signal flags were means of controlling the slow-moving,
which compelled navies to adopt to all-metal hulls of iron wind-constrained formations. With battleships, steam power
and then steel, which in turn demanded the installation of gave freedom to maneuver in any direction, and the range of
rifled, breech-loaded guns of major calibre to effectively the big guns allowed a concentration of fire from the whole
hit this steel hulled ships. Concurrently, iron boilers and formation. The defensive element came to prominence,
screw propellers made steam propulsion practical and gave symbolized by armour (hull). Tactical decisions had to
great new freedom of maneuver. Navies were unrestrained be made before the enemy was in sight, so that scouting
tactically from the wind, but only at the strategic price of (gathering info) became more evident as a tactical ingredient.
having to remain within steaming range of coaling stations Control had to be exercised over much greater distances,
(re-fueling). which expanded the possibilities of exploiting the means
of control, notably through radio direction finding and code
Again, after a considerable period of peace out breaking. The growth in the tactical influence of scouting,
at sea, a tactical–technical turning point came from the anti-scouting, command and control, and countermeasures
observation of few battles in East Asia at the end of 19th against command and control continued through the era of the
century. The new technology was the fire control, which aircraft carrier and into the era of the guided missile. These
enabled major-calibre rounds to be placed on target at elements have become as important to tactical success at sea
5, then 10, and ultimately 15 Nautical miles. A column as firepower, consuming comparable thought and resources.
Lieutenant Commander(G) DDK Dayananda, RSP, MEng(NWST), MAIR, BNS
Commander Rapid Action Boat Unit & RTT3
