Fig. lo. To interchange the centre and weather columns.
Fig. 11. To interchange the weather and lee co lumns.
Fig. 12. To interchange the centre and lee co 1 urn ns.
Fig. 13. To permit the weather column to pass to leeward.
Fig. 14. To permit the lee column to pass to leeward.
For a complete explanation of these refer to Steel's Naval Tactics.
Of kuping ships in their respective stations.
an admiral, by signal, orders a particular manoeuvre to be performed, it is the duty of every captain and inferior officer to see it carried into perfect execution, and to preserve his ship in the station that may be allotted to her, whatever may be the order of sailing determined on. For this purpose the naval-square has been contrived to assist our gallant seamen in their splendid duty. Suppose Fig. 15 to represent a horizontal section of a ship, and EF to represent a portion of the lon gitudinal axis running through the keel, and ABCD a square, formed so that EF may run through the intersection of its diagonals. Now the angles DGE and CGE are each twelve points or 135°, which is equal to the two courses close hauled on a wind. Let therefore these angles be bisected by the lines GH and GI, which will represent the direction of the wind, when close hauled, upon either tack. Hence, if a ship is running in the direction EF upon the starboard tack, her close hauled course upon the larboard tack will be in the direction of the semidiagonal GC. And if she be running in the direction of FE upon the larboard tack, her close hauled course upon the starboard tack will be in the direction of the semi-diagonal GD.
To apply this to the case of a fleet in three columns, close-hauled, the columns coinciding in the direction of the wind, in order to beat to wind ward with greater facility, let Fig. 16 be referrad to, in which the naval square is connected with the middle ship of the centre column. Then must the coinciding ships in the columns be kept in the directions GH or GI according to the tack and the wind; while the ships of each column must be in the direction of EF or parallel to it.
To form the line of battle.
Ships, from a variety of causes, are sometimes scattered, and therefore to form readily the line of battle is an operation of the first importance in na val tactics. The general principle is, for the ship which is destined to take the lead, to run to lee ward of the whole, then to haul the wind, upon the tack directed, carrying an easy sail. Each of the other ships then makes sail, according to her dis tance, and chases the ship which is to be immedi ately a-head of her, and hauls in her wake, in the line on which the van ship is moving. Fig. 17 represents the case of aline of battle already exist ing, and in which it is required to form the line on the other tack without tacking in succession. This
is performed by all the ships of the line veering to gether; the rear ship hauling her wind on the other tack, and standing on, while all the others go two points free on the other tack, and haul up, as they successively gain the wake of the leading ship. The rear ship thus gets into the van. For the line to veer in succession, the van ship veers round, and steers four points free upon the other tack, and when clear of the rear ship, she springs her lull, and gets close-hauled. The rest follow, and haul in succession.
It is also an important evolution in naval tactics to be able to interchange the different squadrons of a fleet with each other. Steel has given some in teresting examples illustrating the interchange of the centre and van squadrons, the centre and rear squadrons, and the van and rear squadrons; how also the van may pass and form the rear, and how the rear may pass and form the van.
The most beautiful system of evolutions is devel oped, when an attempt is made to change from one order of sailing to another. We regret that out brief limits will only allow us to select two cases.
And first, to change from the fifth order to the line of battle on the same tack, the weather column passing to the rear. This is represented in Plate DXV11I,. Fig. 18, and to accomplish which, the lee column brings to, or keeps only steerage way, as close to the wind as possible. The centre column bears away together two points, and forms on the line a-head of the new centre squadron. The wea ther column veering together, and going seven points free on the other tack, will gain its station in the rear under an easy sail. Another case may be selected to change from the fifth order to the line of battle on the other tack. This is illustrated in Plate DXIX, Fig. 1, wherein the weather column begins the evolution by tacking in succession. The centre and lee columns stand on till their respec tive leaders can tack in the wake of the line, when they tack in succession. The two columns to lee ward must carry an easy sail, lest they draw too near the rear of the weather column. Should that, however, be the case, the leader of the centre col umn must be careful and keep somewhat to leeward of the sternmost ship of the weather column, and the leader of the lee column must act in the same manner by the centre columns; or they may stand on beyond the wake of the column immediately to windward of them respectively, and tack to wind ward. They may then take their stations and form the line with facility.