Naval Gaming Introduction

The horseshoe screen is primarily an anti-aircraft formation used to protect a main body when there are not enough escort ships to completely surround the main body. While functional as an anti-submarine screen, the horseshoe screen does not provide the amount of coverage against submarines which could be obtained with a bent line screen.

The most straightforward horseshoe screen is essentially a three sided box around a main body. It is formed by a combination of three lines of bearing, which are typically implemented as a line abreast and two columns. Each line will normally have its own guide.

A horseshoe screen may be oriented either along the course of the force or along the air threat axis, or along a line between these two directions, as the situation requires. The selection of the specific axis of the screen will be determined by a combination of the need for air defense and anti-submarine defense.

The horseshoe screen is not a maneuvering formation. Once formed, the formation only moves forward. It is possible to perform a simultaneous turn, but this may change the orientation of the formation and reduce its effectiveness. Normally if such a screen is to change course, the formation is broken and ships of the screen proceed directly to their new stations.

The horseshoe screen is not normally a night steaming formation, however, when formed as lines abreast and columns, it may be readily used at night. Fortunately, the need for night time anti-aircraft protection became significant only after the more common use of circular screens.