TACTICS, NAVAL. With the advent of steam, iron-plated ships, and rams, the tac tics under which Rodney and Nelson fought and conquered have passed away, while the principles of the new warfare have scarcely been sufficiently established for reduc tion to theory. A glance at the obsolete tactics of bygone times must, therefore, suffice in the present article.
In ancient naval engagements, where the vessels fought on the comparatively smooth waters of the Mediterranean, and where the use of oars rendered the commanders nearly independent of the wind, the attack consisted of a charge with the beaked prows, fol lowed, if that failed, by the use of balistto and a hand-to-hand struggle. See NAVIES, ANCIENT. The introduction of gunpowder, with broadside ordnance, necessitated a change, and the great desideratum of each admiral was to present as long a line of roadsides as possible to the enemy, to take care that none of his ships was masked by he intervention of another between it and the foe, and to endeavor in each ship to oppose its broadside to the bow or stern of a hostile ship, so as to obtain the preponder ance of force, and to rake his decks. The ships of two decks and upward formed the line of battle, while frigates and smaller vessels served as look-outs and skirmishers. A fleet in one line would, however, have been of inconvenient length for sailing, and it was usual to sail in three, six, or nine parallel lines while traversing the ocean, the ships of the rear lines tacking into their places in the line of battle on the signal to form for action. The great principle of maneuvering was to get the weather-gage, i.e., to be to
windward of-the enemy, both for facility of navigation, and because the smoke would inconvenience him most. The standing attempt during the French war was to double the enemy's line (see CLERK, Jons, of Eldin) by piercing it, or passing it at the van or rear, and then, by tacking in its rear, to place his ships between two fires. This was first practiced in lord Rodney's action of 1782, and was successfully repeated by Nelson at the battle of the Nile. tinder steam, and with ships carrying colossal ordnance, naval tactics have entirely changed. It used to be the object to avoid being raked; it is now to avoid being hit at all. The projectiles used are so tremendous that a few hits involve destruction. Ships are consequently constructed so as to offer the least mark to ordnance; and with the same view they are kept constantly in rapid motion. Actions are fought, not, as in old time, within pistol-shot, but at a mile or two miles' distance. The loss of life is less; for the battle is no longer decided hand-to-hand by the cutlass and the boarding-pike, following a furious cannonade; but after a few long shots with ponderous missiles, one or other vessel becomes disabled, and being helpless, yields the victory to her foe. The ships will be steamed end on if they act as rams, and also to offer less mark to shot. Rival fleets have never yet met on a large scale to fight under the conditions of modern war.