Fleet organization

[hossster]

Hi folks,

I was in a fleet battle between USA and Germany.  I am USA.

I had two BBs and no Bs.  My BBS were in two battle divisions with 1 BB each.  The fleet organization had intervening DD divisions between the two battle divisions in the OOB.

My problem.  The second BB always sailed to the side of the first one, not in line and it was hard to keep her fully engaged.

Here is what I tried:  make sure the second battle division was on core, line ahead and with the 1st battle division as leader.  I chose AI for this one.  The 1st battle division was also core, line ahead and no listed leader.

I didn't work.  What should I have done?  Is it tech related?  If so, which one?  Was the problem that the battle divisions weren't adjacent on the OOB?  In SAI campaign mode they always are.

Thanks!

[elouda]

Aug 2, 2015 11:23:24 GMT -6 hossster said:

Hi folks,

I was in a fleet battle between USA and Germany.  I am USA.

I had two BBs and no Bs.  My BBS were in two battle divisions with 1 BB each.  The fleet organization had intervening DD divisions between the two battle divisions in the OOB.

My problem.  The second BB always sailed to the side of the first one, not in line and it was hard to keep her fully engaged.

Here is what I tried:  make sure the second battle division was on core, line ahead and with the 1st battle division as leader.  I chose AI for this one.  The 1st battle division was also core, line ahead and no listed leader.

I didn't work.  What should I have done?  Is it tech related?  If so, which one?  Was the problem that the battle divisions weren't adjacent on the OOB?  In SAI campaign mode they always are.

Thanks!

This behaviour happens after you research the 'Fleet cruising formation - Enables crusing formation in parallel columns for the fleet' tech.

Before this, the cruising formation is a single column, with each core behind the other.

After it, the cruising formation is a series of parallel columns.

Note that this is a cruising formation. Once the shooting starts, the ships will shift into the traditional 'line of battle' type of formation.

What the paralell columns formations does is give you more flexibility in how to deploy once combat starts - in a typical arrangement, the 'lead' core division is on the far port side of the formation. From here you can form nearly instantly into a column by turning that lead division 90 degrees to port - the rest will fall in behind it. Alternatively, if you wish to form a column forward, just let the lead division sail on or accelerate it slightly, and the rest will fall in from the starboard side. Lastly, if you want a column heading the other way from case #1, with the division on the other side in the lead, you can shift the flag, rearrange the 'order' (what follows what), and then turn that new lead 90 degrees to starboard, again for a near instant column in that direction.

This is a notable improvement in all but the 'straight on' case, compared to the traditional 'one column' cruising formation, which if it wants to deploy to either side, must turn in sequence to do so.

[julianbarker]

The other advantage, historically, of cruising formation is it makes it far easier to screen the fleet against sub threats etc.

[Fredrik W]

Aug 2, 2015 14:14:47 GMT -6 julianbarker said:

The other advantage, historically, of cruising formation is it makes it far easier to screen the fleet against sub threats etc.

And this is taken account of in the game in the chances for successful sub attacks.