Many gamers love to play historical naval wargames, but have only a limited understanding of how the real ships, formations, and operations worked. This site provides a basic explanation of naval formations, maneuvers, and ship handling.

To keep this subject within a reasonable size, the time period covered will generally be the first half of the 20th century. This may be expanded in the future, as time and interest determine.

The site is still incomplete. This is a large subject, and will require a long time to be completed. The efforts of anyone interested in helping will be appreciated. Suggestions, articles, graphics, and constructive criticism are all sought.

Introduction Introduction Definitions Links Ship Handling Acknowledgements Basic Formations & Maneuvering Line of Bearing Column Line Abreast Diamond "V" Multiple Lines Circular Replenishment Screens Bent Line Horseshoe Concentric Eccentric Other Maneuvering Zigzagging Search Turn Carrier Operations Battle Fleet Tactics Deploying a Battle Line Scout Screens Smoke Screens Parallel Engagement ASW Screens Torpedo Attacks Crossing the "T" AAW Screens Race Track Other Tactics & Operations PTs / MTBs Anti-Submarine Wolf Packs Air Searches Radar Picket Screen Mines The Amphibious Assault Typical Formations & Organizations Battle Fleet (WW I) U.S. vs. Japan (1930s) Cruisers Battle Force (WW II) Carrier Task Force Destroyers Other Related Subjects Signals & Signaling USN Task Organization Putting it all Together Additional Subjects Who Conceived the Dreadnought Type of Battleship? Which Ship Was the First Dreadnought? Requests for Information Pre-Dreadnought Battleship Turret Hatches

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) at San Francisco, California, 1 May 1944, after overhaul and repainting with pattern camouflage. Photo NH-83607 (68K). USS Indianapolis (CA-35) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 9 Dec. 1944 following overhaul. Photo 19-N-76902 (72K). USS Indiana (BB-1) sometime from 1895 to 1900. Photo NH-73975 (54K). USS Indiana (BB-50), artwork by F. Muller, circa 1920. The ships of the South Dakota class, were cancelled in 1922 under the terms of the Naval Limitations Treaty. Photo NH-44895 (59K). USS Indiana (BB-58) fires a salvo from her forward 16"/45 guns at the Kamaishi plant of the Japan Iron Company, 250 miles north of Tokyo on 14 July 1945. A second before, USS South Dakota (BB-57), from which this photograph was taken, fired the initial salvo of the first naval gunfire bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands. The Naval Historical Center identifies the ship in the backgroun as USS Massachusetts (BB-59), although it appears to be a North Carolina class battleship. Photo 80-G-K-6035 (102K). Summary of photographs.

Updated 30 March 2003.