great tactical principle of reciprocal defence. In carrying out this principle, the gunnery powers of the different ships require to be combined with each other in such a manner as to give the greatest military strength to the whole fleet, by enabling each ship to give to, and receive from, the neighbouring ships, that support which constitutes the main strength of a defensive system, instead of, as in times past, leaving each ship to rely on its own isolated strength. When a special code of Regulations for the evolutions of steamfleets shall have been completed, a new code of signals, by which the regulations for executing those evolutions may be most effectually carried into effect, should also be drawn up. The same distinctive signal-flags as are at present in use may be employed, but they should be displayed in a different manner. Flags droop in calm weather, which is the most propitious time for an engagement between steam-fleets, and then they become useless; even when they flutter in the breeze they are not easily made out, if the wind should be in the direction in which the signal is to be made. Every signal-flag should therefore be bent to two small yards, one above and the other below, an expedient often put in practice during the late wars, but which should now be invariably adopted: the flags should be connected together in the prescribed combination; hoisted to the most conspicuous part of the rigging, their planes perpendicular to the direction in which the signal is to be passed. INDEX. INDEX TO THE WORDS, ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. PAGE ARTICLE. A. Aboukir Bay, disposition of the ships in.. Action, direct, inconveniences of, on the axes of paddle- wheels and screws ... Alecto and Rattler, experimental trials by the Alignment of a fleet, manner of reversing the Archimedes and Widgeon, experimental trials by the should be made by bringing up a superior force of a fleet in line ahead may be made in two of a fleet in line ahead may be made in three Barricades, loopholed, should be placed across decks to Basilisk and Niger, experimental trials by the Boarding may occasionally occur in naval actions 146 166 Bow and stern batteries, strength of, in a two-decked) Calm, disadvantages of a perfect, in naval actions under Carpmael, Mr. William, legal opinion of, concerning Centre of pressure in paddle-boards.. Coal can be carried in steamers only for a few days Cranks are means of converting a reciprocating into .. Cross attacks, the nature of D. Defence, reciprocal, may be applied to naval as well as Distances between ships in line ahead . - between ships in line en échelon Doris, steamer, results of experimental trials with the Doubling on a line of ships, modes of resisting the on an enemy's line, manner of, with sailing ships Echelon formation, manner of forming the line of battle en the stern and broadside guns.. 124 134 -formation advantageous for an attack at either by Erecsson, Capt., exhibited on the Thames a steam-vessel Enfiladed, ships liable to be, when bearing down directly) 126 136 127 138 124 135 137 150 24 7 24, 26 8, 10 Feather of a screw less than a complete turn of the spiral Feathering, Mr. Galloway's invention for Fleets of ships, moved both by sail and steam, should en échelon not liable to be enfiladed in approach- Formations en échelon, advantage of, for making false) Fouling of a screw by floating materials. action .. method of diminishing the risk of, previous to Fuel, consumption of, less with the screw than with the economy of, gained by working steam ex- pansively.. . consumption of; proportional to the number of -, economy of, by allowing greater space for .. America in 1807 G. 39 64-70 63 74 Galloway, invention of, for feathering paddle-boards Gearing, inconvenience of, for steering screw-steamers Guns may be trained to fire at 37° 30' before the beam H. Horse-power, estimated value in pounds weight Leeward, a fleet to, may decline action .. enemy Line ahead, a fleet in, affords no reciprocal defence —, single, disadvantage of.. -, a fleet in, may be more advantageously attacked by a steam fleet at the head than at the rear Line of battle, reversing the extremities of, a difficult and complex operation .. difficulty of penetrating a, from the leeward pulsion centre may be strengthened by a double échelon on the may be formed by steamers as easily as by an army in the field may be strengthened by ships en échelon on the wings.. Line of bearing defined should make an angle of 45° with the keels of the ships.. -, double, ships may be formed in, in order to obtain reciprocal defence -, double, the wings of, with steamers, may make with each other occasionally less than 90° .. -, sailing ships in, should be close-hauled with ships en échelon, should be the general order) of sailing or steaming .. Lines en échiquier, manner of disposing ships in 156 .. the 119, 126 126, 136 Marine steam-engines more powerful than formerly 27 11 proposed by 87 84 Masts, necessity of still firing at the Mélées may occasionally occur in naval actions Order of battle, the enemy assumed to be close-hauled) |