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108 disadvantages as compared with placing them in, or nearly in the prolongation of the line. It is a mild kind of column formation, placing ships behind others when under artillery fire; thus deepening the target, which should only be done when unavoidable. Furthermore the fir of the enemy's ships of the line will naturally be directed mainly against those of their own class, and you should not give them the chance of hitting one of two birds with the same shot. But if they do give any attention to rams on the flanks, so much is diverted from the iron clads. For all these reasons, rams are better on the flanks.
(Why not have the Rams and the Torpedo boat (sea-going torpedo boat) auxiliaries as it were to the ship of the line thus? A Iron-clad B Ram C Torpedo-boat.
That is to say each heavy ship of the line has these powerful aduncts. The latter operate from under the cover of the heavy ship. They form together a very strong group for offensive and defensive operations. They move together as a unit. This is merely suggestive. S.B.L.)
My opinion on this is that it is better to combine the different classes of units among themselves, rather than with the other units. i.e. Rams with rams &c. These groups of vessels of different kinds were tried.
109 There are further reasons. If in rear of the line they must be close to it so as to be near the enemy, and must get out of the way when any flank movement is made. Also, as has been pointed out the weak point in the mutual support of ships drawn up in line abreast or in re-entrant angle are the flanks of the line (the two flanking ships); but when placed in rear of the ships the rams do not contribute to the utmost to strngthen the flanks nor the order in general.
There seems little doubt that when thus advancing with front toward the enemy, the proper place for the rams is on both flanks, nearly in prolongation of the line. The position causes the least embarrassment to your own offense, offers fewest advantages to the enemy, tends to the mutual support of your fleet, and gives the rams fullest liberty of action.
There yet remains to consider the order and detailed position of the three rams on a flank.
The best support for a ship threatened by the enemy's ram and tied down to her place in line, comes, as has been said, from the rear. On the other hand and in opposition to this consideration, a ram advanced beyond the prolongation of the line is by so much nearer the enemy; one of the objects that condition the station of rams. If there were but one ram available, the support of the flank ship would override the other object and compel the ram to be placed on the outer quarter of the ship; but with three it is pos-
110 sible to combine both ends remembering that protection of the flank of the line of battle takes precedence of other considerations.
Let B be the left flank ship of a line abreat; T a ram, placed on her beam and heading the same course. E is an enemy's ram steering a course at right angles to that of B and T. The speed of the line is 12 knots, that of E 18 knots; but while B is tied down to her 12 knots, T is capable of a speed equal to that of E. Now if E has reached such a position that EB" = 1 1/2 BB" it is plain that E will reach B at B". T is entrusted with the defense of B against this. So long as E bears 45º or less forward of the beam from T (as in the positions E and T & E' and T') the latter is nearer B's line of advance than E; for E'T" and T'T" being equal, T can always travel by the shortest path T'B". This is true of any position on E'T' or its prolongation. Consequently below the bearing 45º, T can, and probably s should, keep his place and the fleet speed; but as that bearing is reached T's speed should be increased to 18 knots, so that E cannot cross his bows and get in B's path to his annoyance and possible injury. So long as T can command speed equal to that of E, the latter cannot cross his bows, if not permitted to draw ahead of the 45 bearing. If by T's neglect, E is allowed to reach the position
111 E", where E"B" = T'B" the race of the two ships for B becomes equal; and the ship of the line must quit her place, leaving the ship next her unsupported, or a collision will take place in which the enemy will sacrifice a second class to disable one of the first class.
The position on the beam of the flank ship seems to be commanding as well as natural; nor is the precise distance, TB, between the flank and the ram of great consequence. It should be great enough to make B quite at ease in case of conflict of rams on her flank, and to permit your own rams to manoeuvre readily, unhampered by the main fleet; but not so great as to separate them from it by a large time interval, nor yet increase materially their distance from the enemy. (The ratio of the ram speed to fleet speed is about the same as that of the hypothenuse to a side when the angle is 45º. (1.4). The time interval by ram speed of the gap on the flank will therefore be the time necessary to join the main line if needed. If the separation be 600 yards in one minute the fleet will advance 400, the rams 600 on a course of 45 which will give 400 ahead and 400 to the side). From 300 to 500 years will probably be a good interval.
The flanking rams should be so far from the fleet as to materially aid the flank against torpedoes, by keep enemies outside of torpedo range of the fleet. The fleet in its entirety will then have a very strong, if not quite invulnerable, disposition against torpedoes; the ships of the line sweeping the front with revolving cannon, while the flankers watch the two sides.
112 Referring again to the fiture, E, finding himself unable to cross T's bows, and so reach B, may decide either to attack him (T), or to pass under his stern and so get all the flank of the line. The flank defence from such an attempt should be given to a second ram, which will be either astern or on the outer quarter of T. The latter position will be more favorable as being in echelon and equally well place to ram E. It is likely the latter will not persist in a course which brings no advantage; but if he does the second ram should (I think) brig him on a bearing of 45 so long as he does not by so doing get on the inner quarter of T. (Probably as E and T approach they would turn toward each other, which would bring the rear ram yet more on T's quarter. T however having B on his mind must probalby wait E's initiative) The distance between the Rams if in echelon need not exceed half a minute, 300 years at 18 knots. (Three quarters of a minute at 12 knots).
If the rear ram is on the outer quarter of T, and the latter turn from his course to meet E, a very rapid change will be needed on the part of the rear ram. It would perhaps be better then to be astern, and sheer the opposite way but in that case T loses his backer. The whole shows the extreme, almost superhuman quickness that must mark the ram captain. If T diverges too soon, he lays B open; if too late E rams him at his ease. His protection must be in the rear ram. At all events the echelon is best for general use. Assuming a distance of 300 yards and a bearing of two points, the interval between the rams measured on the line prolonged will