TACTICS, NAVAL. The science of arranging combinations, groupings, movements, and meth ods of handling of ships and other naval weapons, and the art of carrying these plans into effect. Roughly speaking, tactics may he said to solve the question 'how' a certain operation may be per formed; strategy to furnish the reason `why' it is likely to be desirable. They are necessarily mutually dependent; teaks only provides for effecting conditions found desirable by strategy; and strategy is confined to operations which are tactically practicable. In its broad sense naval tactics includes the manipulation of all naval weapons—the movements of a ship or of a fleet, the methods of mounting and placing guns and of handling them, the placing of torpedo tubes and their handling. etc. In a narrower and more usual sense it is understood to mean the handling of a ship and her weapons or of several ships, leaving the tactics of the gun per se to be in cluded in gunnery, and those of the torpedo to he studied under torpedo tactics.
Of the abstract principles of strategy the most important is t.o oppose to the enemy at the point of contact a superior force. This may mean more powerful ships, numerical superiority, or a better arrangement for attack and receiving at tack. The first point must be secured by su perior design; the vessel's guns must he more powerful, better mounted, better protected, or she must carry more of them; o• her protection or speed must be superior. Numerical superior ity where the opposing ships are equal in num ber and supposedly equal in power may be at tained only by good manoeuvring and is likely to he only temporary; hut a clever tactician and strategist would be likely to reproduce the in equality whenever opportunity offered. The best disposition of the fleet for attacking and receiv ing attack must depend upon many circum stances; advantage should he taken of the strong points of your own vessels and the weaknesses of the enemy's. For instance, the better protected ships should seek close action, the others avoid it; ships having heavy bow and stern fire should seek action compelling bow and stern fighting if the enemy is particularly weak in bow and stern guns but relatively strong in broadside fire, etc.
The battle tactics of to-day resemble more nearly those of the galley period than those of the epoch of sail, because steam, like manual power, enables any sort of combination of ships to he made and kept with reasonable precision. And the development of signaling has added to the fa cility of effecting these combinations, though the most experienced naval officers believe that after a fleet action has begun the changes of formation should be simple and few in number.
and column styled 'line ahead.' In Figs. 1 and 2 a fleet of 16 ships is shown divided into two squadrons of eight ships each. If the fleet con sisted of 12 ships it might be divided into three squadrons of four ships each, or two squadrons of six. In the various navies of the world the subdivisions of a fleet are different. Some have units of two, others of three. In the United States Navy a fleet consists of two or more squad rons; a squadron, of two to eight ships; a di vision is half of a squadron which consists of more than five ships; a section nor a pair of ships There are three principal formations, line (Fig. I), column (Fig. 2), and echelon (Fig. 3). In England line is frequently called 'line abreast' forming part of a division or squadron. Vessels,
sections, divisions, and squadrons are numbered from van to rear when in column and from right to left when in line. When vessel No. 1 is lead ing in column or is on the right when in line the fleet is said to be in natural order: if vessel No. It; is leading or on the right the fleet is said to be in inverted order. Vessels not intended for the line of battle are separately formed and ma meuvred and constitute the reserve and auxiliary squadrons, according to their character or the circumstances of the case. Vessels which have a distinct fighting value hut are not fast enough or powerful enough to join the fighting line would form the reserve; supply ships, colliers, repair two parallel lines. In indented column the even numbered ships are moved slightly to one side instead of being directly in rear of the odd-num bered ones. Distance. The linear distance (in yards) between the centres or foremasts of ships when in ordinary formation. Half distance is ships, etc., would form the auxiliary squadron. The following terms are used: About. A change of course of 130 degrees. Adrancc. Distance gained to the front in turn ing. 21/(g/one-W. The direction of the line. Are of train or fire. The angle through which guns may be trained or fired. Coiumn. A formation in which vessels are in a line which is in the di reetion in which they are steering. Double col umn is a similar formation except that there are nail tills. voltaic aista-nee is twice oistance. Echelon. A formation in which the line of hear ing of the ships makes an angle of about 45 de green with the direction in which they are steer ing as in Fig. 3. Evolution. The combination of movements by which a fleet is changed from one formation to another. Flank. The sea to the of ships when in a particular formation. In compound formations each part has its own line of hearing. Movement. One of the component right of the fleet is called the right flank; that to the left is called the left flank. For mation. The particular arrangement of the fleet. Simple formations are column, line, parts of an evolution. A movement is simul taneous when all ships execute it together, and successive when executed by each ship or group echelon, etc. Compound formations are double column, line of division columns, etc. Front. The direction in which the fleet is steaming ex cept when obliquing. The battle front is the direction of the enemy. Guide. The ship desig nated as the one upon which the formation is ar ranged for alignment and distance. Interval. The distance between divisions or squadrons when in compound formation. Line. A forma tion in which the line of bearing of the ships is at right angles to the direction in which they are steaming. Line of bearing. An imaginary line passsing through the centres or foremasts of ships in turn. Oblique. A change of course of less than 90 degrees. The ordinary oblique is three or four points. Order. The arrangement course of 90 degrees; a half turn is a change of 45 degrees. ran. The leading unit of a forma tion. Wheel. A movement in line in which the of the fleet (see preceding pages). Point. One thirty-second of a circle or 11X degrees. Rear. The direction opposite to the front. speed. :Stand ard or battle speed is that designated for battle or vessels preserve their relative positions but the line of bearing is revolved.