Battles Naval and Land

[Red Cat Jenny]

I was thinking it would be grande to learn or share and certainly discuss strategy on land and sea as survival required brains and daring as well as might. Especially in the unmatched contests when one vessel chanced upon another.

So let us start with some basics - terms.

The first of which in tribute to William Red Wake shall be:

Enfilade: Which is a land or sea tactic

Also known as "Raking Fire"

In naval warfare, raking fire is fire directed parallel to the long axis of an enemy ship. Although each shot is directed against a smaller target profile than by shooting broadside and thus more likely to miss the target ship to one side or the other, an individual cannon shot that hits will pass through more of the ship, thereby increasing damage to the hull, sails, and crew.

Enfilade fire was particularly devastating, if an attacking ship could manoeuvre to cross the enemy in front or behind then they could fire directly down the length of the ship as the guns came to bear.

The round shot bursting through the timbers resulted in a storm of splinters through the deck, in many ways similar to the effect of modern shellfire. In order to rake the enemy it was necessary to sail through the enemies line.

[Jacky Tar]

Aye, navel tactics... Who are ye an wot hav ye done wit' Red CAt?

[Red Cat Jenny]

Siigh..

[Jacky Tar]

Aye, tactics... Wikipedia has a nice little synopsis 'bout, "Naval Tactics in the Age of Sail"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_tactics...the_Age_of_Sail

Interestin' readin', explains briefly why some naval forces chose t' run rather than fight (the French mainly).

Could make fer some lively discussions.

[Red Cat Jenny]

Thanks JAcky. I had stepped a little further ahead in time for the first post, but It explains a lot about reasons and method for facing off in a canon battle between 2 ships. Plus it's just plain cool. More to come. I hope some o ye will add some terms to this thread.

[hitman]

How late do you want to go or should we stick to GAOP?

[Red Cat Jenny]

Well considering...I wouldn't want to go past 1750. Mainly GAoP would be best.

[hitman]

Well then I would highly advise all intresteded to download Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 by Julian S. Corbett http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16695 Although not laying out pirate tactics they are the rules of the road for British Naval Commanders until Trafalger.

[Abrams]

Well then I would highly advise all intresteded to download Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 by Julian S. Corbett http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/16695 Although not laying out pirate tactics they are the rules of the road for British Naval Commanders until Trafalger.

That is indeed a good book. I'm in the process of looking for a more aesthetically pleasing one, though.

[Red Cat Jenny]

Wow thanks..

As you mentioned it..I have admit loving to read about Trafalgar as well

[Calico Jack]

That is indeed a good book. I'm in the process of looking for a more aesthetically pleasing one, though.

Ah, one of the good things about the Gutenburg Project - download in straight Text format, and you can use a word processing program to make it as pretty as you like - even to publish it in a book format, for good-looking reading [grins].

[hitman]

A few quick thoughts on the strategy and or Technique to be used when encamped.

1 Choose a spot on the high ground.

2 Insure water needs both supply and drainage.

3 If erecting fortifications either earth or wooden ensure they provide adequate cover.

4 Clear tree line beyond the range of small arms. (If possible choose a spot already so cleared.)

5 Keep ammo (most especially Black Powder) protected and dry!!!!

6 Insure proper and reasonably safe area for treatment of wounded

7 Provide adequate stores.

8 Realize that although a great force multiplier all fortifications will succumb to siege if the attacker has adequate supplies, determination, and time.

Examples of what not to do,

Fort Necessity,

Battle

On June 28, a party of 600 French and 100 French-allied native tribesmen left Fort Duquesne to attack the British party. At the time, the bulk of the British garrison had been sent to Gist’s plantation (present Brownsville, Pennsylvania) on the Monongahela River. Washington decided that this outpost was indefensible and gathered all his remaining strength at Fort Necessity. On July 1, the whole garrison had returned to the Great Meadows and began construction of trenches and further fortifications. Several allied bands of natives including Half King's group argued that Fort Necessity was also indefensible and abandoned Washington. Washington briefly considered abandoning Fort Necessity but decided that his men were too fatigued and the French forces too near to make a safe and orderly retreat.

The French expedition against Fort Necessity was led by Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, who was the brother of the slain Ensign Joseph Coulon de Jumonville. Captain de Villiers was outraged by the death of his brother, which he considered to be a cold-blooded murder. He was further enraged when he passed Jumonville Glen and discovered that the British had failed to bury the bodies of the slain French soldiers.

At about 11:00 on July 3, the French column arrived at the Great Meadows and immediately began a vigorous attack. Washington’s misjudgment of the Great Meadows site quickly proved disastrous. The French were able to conceal themselves in the cover of the tree line and fire on the fort from an elevated position. The British in the fort were exposed in the shallow trenches and the log walls of the palisade provided little cover. The poorly supplied British quickly began to run short of ammunition. Compounding the problems of the British, it began to rain heavily a few hours later, filling the trenches with water.

By evening, Washington realized the hopelessness of his situation. At about 20:00, he asked the French for terms of surrender. The negotiations were slow and difficult. None of the British officers spoke French and none of the French officers spoke English. One Colonial of Dutch descent spoke English and French just well enough to provide basic communication. They were given a surrender document. Washington could not read French, but to not appear foolish in front of his soldiers, he signed the document, unaware that it stated that he would accept all responsibility for the death of Joseph Coulon de Jumonville. This "admission" would later be used as propaganda against the British and nearly ruined Washington's reputation.

The fort was handed over on July 4 and the bulk of British garrison were allowed to return to Maryland honorably. Two British prisoners, Robert Stobo and Jacob Van Braam, were retained by the French as a guarantee of compliance with the terms of surrender. The French burned the fort and returned to Fort Duquesne. Washington would pass by the destroyed fort one year later as part of the Braddock expedition.

The site of the fort and battle are preserved as Fort Necessity National Battlefield.

From wikipedia complete article at,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the...e_Great_Meadows

The battle for Dien Bien Phu

again from wikipedia and this time only the link,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dien_Bien_Phu

I grant you both examples are out of our time frame but the lessons were learned many times many centuries before and indeed still apply today.