Naval Gaming Introduction

Column

A column is a line of bearing in which the relative bearing of all ships from the lead ship is 180 (i.e., the ships are lined up one behind the other). The column is the classic naval formation. It was the standard offensive and defensive formation in the age of sail, and the preferred battle formation throughout most of the age of steam. It is still one of the most common formations used by warships today. The most important feature of this formation is the relative ease with which a commander may exercise leadership. With the flagship in the lead, the other ships simply follow the leader. Properly maneuvered, a column allows a group of warships to bring all of their broadsides to bear at the same time against an enemy force. There are two major drawbacks for the column. First is its potential to become unwieldy as more ships are added to the formation, taking long periods of time to complete a simple formation turn (the British Grand Fleet at Jutland required about half an hour for its full column to change course). Second, the formation is unable to bring significant fire power to bear forward or astern of the formation. The column is a preferred night and low visibility steaming formation, as each ship need only concentrate on the ship directly ahead. Through World War I columns were always led by flagships. In large fleets the fleet flagship might not be the first in the column, but a squadron or division flagship would be. By World War II, improved communications reduced the need for a flagship to be the lead ship in smaller columns, although this practice was still the norm. In the figure D = Distance.

A column of United States battleships steaming off of the coast of California in the mid to late 1920s. Lead ships are three Colorado class battleships (USS Colorado (BB-45), USS Maryland (BB-46), and USS West Virginia (BB-48), order is uncertain), followed by USS Tennessee (BB-43) and two other battleships. The picture was taken from USS California (BB-44). Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images. Photo 80-G-695093 (109K).

Column Open Order

Purpose. To ease station keeping while in column and to make signals from the lead ship easier for following ships to see. Description. The second ship in the column assumes a position 4 degrees off of the port stern of the lead ship. The third ship assumes a position 2 degrees off of the starboard stern of the lead ship. Even numbered ships in the column follow the second ship. Odd numbered ships in the column follow the third ship. The actual displacement of ships from the centerline of the formation is minimal. With a distance between ships of 1,000 yards, the following ships are approximately 70 yards off the centerline. Limitations. The column open order is not a maneuvering formation. Prior to executing any maneuver, a true column must be formed. Should a maneuver order be issued while in column open order, all ships will first return to their stations in column, and then execute the order. The guide for the formation is always the lead ship. The column open order is not a battle formation.

Column Turn

Also Known As. Turn In Sequence, Formation Turn, or a Column Change of Front. Purpose. A column turn allows a column to change direction while retaining the column formation. Description. When the turn is executed, the lead ship immediately changes to the new formation course. In sequence, each ship duplicates this course change when it reaches the same point. If the guide is not the lead ship, then the guide automatically shifts to the lead ship when the turn is ordered. The column turn is the only direct method to change the orientation of a column, that is, to bring the broadsides of the ships to point in a different direction. This is not an overly difficult maneuver, and is practiced by all navies constantly. Limitations. There are no limitations on the change of course for a column turn. A column may turn up to 180°. Problems. All ships in a column will make a turn at the same point. An enemy force, seeing this maneuver will know to concentrate fire on the point of turn. Each ship in the column will, in sequence, move up to the turn point, execute their turn, and take enemy fire.

U.S. battleships in column in the late 1930s. The ships have almost completed a column turn to starboard. Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images. Photo NH 50260 (125K).

Simultaneous Turn
		Also Known As. Turn Together. Purpose. The simultaneous turn is used by a column to shift into either a line abreast or a line of bearing. Description. When the turn is executed all ships turn at the same moment to the new course. Limitations. There are no limitations on the change of course for a simultaneous turn. The ships may turn up to 180°. A turn of 90° results in a line abreast. A turn of 180° results in a reversed column. Any other amount of turn results in a line of bearing. Problems. This maneuver takes the ships out of a column. The greater the amount of course change, the greater the likelihood of ships being out of formation when the maneuver is complete. Notes. Prior to the end of World War I, except for the German Battle Turn Away (see below), a column led by a flagship would never execute a Simultaneous Turn of more than 90°, as this would remove the flagship from the lead of the formation.

Lateral Shift

Purpose. The lateral shift allows a column to move sideways without disrupting the basic alignment of the ships. Description. The ships execute a simultaneous turn, hold the new course for a period of time, and then execute another simultaneous turn to return to the original course. Thus, this is simultaneous turn into a line of bearing, followed by a simultaneous turn into a column. Limitations. The initial turn is limited to a maximum of 90 degrees. Problems. This has the same problems as a simultaneous turn. The sharper the initial turn, the quicker a new position is achieved, but the farther broadsides are taken from their original bearing.

Battle Turn Away

Also Known As. Gefechtskehrtwendung. Purpose. To quickly remove a battle line from the presence of an enemy which is crossing the maneuvering line's "T". Description. All ships execute a simultaneous turn of 180 degrees. Limitations. There are only two options with this maneuver; whether the ships are to turn to port or starboard. The rest of the maneuver is fixed in execution. All ships turn in the same direction. Problems. This maneuver places leading flagships at the end of their division or squadron column. This is considered undesirable as it makes battle leadership significantly more difficult for a force commander. It is necessary to reverse the maneuver at the earliest possible moment. Notes. Prior to, and during World War I, this was rejected as a usable maneuver by all navies except the Imperial German Navy. It was used twice in the Battle of Jutland to get the High Seas Fleet out of a crossed "T" situation. After the war, as battle forces became significantly smaller, and the use of coal ended as a fuel, it was accepted by other navies (where it is simply a 180° simultaneous turn). Regardless, a force commander would put the formation back into one with the flagship(s) in the lead as soon as possible.

Rotation

Purpose. The rotation shifts a column into a line of bearing on a different bearing than the course of the column. Description. When ordered, the following ships break formation and move directly to their positions in the new formation. If the guide is not the lead ship, then the guide automatically shifts to the lead ship when the rotation is ordered. Limitations. Ships retain their sequence between the column and line of bearing. The guide must be the lead ship to execute this maneuver. Problems. This maneuver involves ships breaking formation and moving to their positions in the new line of bearing. Following ships must have a significant speed advantage over the leading ship if they are to reach their new stations.

Disablements

Purpose. To provide ships with an organized reaction to the disablement of a preceding ship in line. Description. A column can be disrupted by the break down of one of the ships in the column. If this happens, and the disabled ship is unable to clear the line, the following ships fall out of line. Odd numbered ships turn to starboard, and even numbered ships turn to port (counting is from the head of the column, not from the disabled ship). Ships pass the disabled ship at a safe distance, and then resume station in column. Ships advance in the column to eliminate the position of the disabled ship. The successful avoidance of a problem depends heavily on the speed with which the disabled vessel informs others of its problem. It is the responsibility of any such disabled ship to inform following ships of its inability to clear the line. Disabled Ship Maneuvering. Should a ship be disabled but still able to maneuver (ex. battle damage slows the ship), it leaves its station in column in a predetermined manner. Odd numbered ship in a column fall out to starboard, and even numbered ships fall out to port. In battle, all ships fall out to the disengaged side, if possible. Obviously, a disabled ship must warn the other ships in the column of its intentions, if possible.