Confused/ Grand Fleet deployment in Jutland

[mlenoe]

Hi all:  I can't suss out how to deploy the Grand Fleet from columns to line ahead in Jutland, even after reading existing threads.  On "Admiral" mode, the GF does not deploy automatically into line ahead on contact (I'm actually not sure how contact is defined... of GF scouting forces with High Seas Fleet?).  Nor can I deploy it into line ahead by turning the lead division 90 degrees after contact.  When I try to do so, the divisions straggle in echelon, and if I try to turn the lead division to starboard in this situation, rather then the other divisions following in line ahead, they reform into columns. If I turn the lead division to port from the echelon formation, chaos ensues.

I *am* giving the GF about 20 minutes to redeploy in the above situations before attempting further turns.

In "Rear Admiral" mode, I can of course shift from column to line ahead, with a lot of clicking.  But once I have the divisions in line ahead, if I switch on AI for the BB divisions to follow the lead division, they try to form columns again.

Utterly stumped.  Can anyone answer these questions?

ML

[julianbarker]

Are you engaged with enemy capital ships at the time? Unless your forces have found the enbemy capital ships the fleet will try and stay in columns.

[mlenoe]

Thanks, Julian: Could you answer one more question - What qualifies as engaged with enemy capital ships?
1. Battle cruisers in combat with enemy capital ships?
2. Grand Fleet scouting forces in visual contact with enemy capital ships?
3. Grand Fleet scouting forces in combat with enemy capital ships?
4. Grand Fleet capital ships in visual contact with enemy capital ships?
5. Grand Fleet capital ships in combat with enemy capital ships?

Thanks! ML

[randomizer]

Your capital ships of a Force (battleships, battle cruisers and dreadnoughts) should be near to visual range of any of their counterparts and friendly light forces on their own will not facilitate deployment from columns of divisions into line ahead. Capital ships of a different force in contact will also not trigger the ability for the other Force to deploy into line from cruising formation so the BCF in action will not allow the Battle Fleet to deploy while the latter is still over the horizon. This is deliberate and hard coded and conforms to the intentions of the Grand Fleet Battle Orders where deployment (which took about 20-minutes, six-miles or 12,000 yards) was to be as late as possible to allow for the best positioning of the battle fleet. Your options are essentially to adjust your tactics to this doctrinal limitation or play at Captain or Rear Admiral difficulty. In framing his tactical doctrine, Jellicoe seems to have presumed that good visibility would always be present in a fleet action in the North Sea.

Some Players do not like this feature and limitation in SAI but it does reflect the real world training and doctrine of the Royal Navy at that place and time.

[julianbarker]

Frerik needs to answer for a definitive reply.

[julianbarker]

That's what happens when you compose a repky whilst Underground! The above reply is almost exactly what I would have said but I wasn't sure of the details I just know that when I've played Jutland which I played a lot the fleet has deployed at about the point when it would have deployed have Jellicoe been in command

[mlenoe]

Thanks, Julian, randomizer: I have no problem at all with the game design or play - they're great. Just wanted to understand how things worked so I could play the British properly.

ML