[Alberg30] Re: Master & Commander

[gordon white]

  I was impressed with the movie, as was my son, a USN commander. 
Especially on the tactics, which showed the importance in the days of 
sail of crossing the opponents' "T" or stern, where a broadside could 
rake the entire length of  his deck while in return he could only fire a 
couple of stern guns. Same if crossing ahead, though the bow might 
deflect a few cannonballs.

    That tactic is directly analogous to sea tactics in the days of  
steam when a fleet crossing the other's "T" could fire all of its 
turrets while the enemy could fire back only either its forward or its 
stern guns. That was Japanese admiral Togo's tactic when he wiped out 
the Russians at the Battle of Tsushima Straits in 1905.

    The last crossing of the "T" in naval gunfire warfare came on 
October 25th, 1944, when Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf's battleship squadron 
destroyed the Japanese Southern Force in the Battle of  Suriagiao 
Straits in the Philippines.


- Gordon White


 +---------------------------------------------------------------+
 |                This Old Boat by Don Casey                     |
 | http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071579931/alberg30-20 |
 +---------------------------------------------------------------+

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