It is common knowledge that traditional naval tactics and formations cannot be used in the sport of Model Warship Combat. Our range is too short, our mobility too great, and our shore-bound perspective makes maintaining a formation difficult. Even ACW-era and Napoleonic-era formation tactics cannot be applied: our ships have impenetrable bows and sterns, ramming is not allowed, and there is no incentive to either form a line or break it. Because traditional naval tactics and formations cannot be used, the vast majority of tactics in our great sport are designed around individual, one-on-one engagements. Maneuvers like the Circle of Death, Windshield Wiper, and Crossing the Bow are all performed by a single ship, against a single ship. In some cases two or more ships may engage a single opponent, and each attacker will try to use his teammate's presence to best advantage, but even this is rarely a planned, coordinated endeavor. This great emphasis on individual tactics, in all branches of our hobby, has left the important field of team tactics sorely underdeveloped. On the rare occasion a tactical formation is intentionally executed, it either fails miserably or succeeds spectacularly. While some people may point to the many failed formations and say that they are useless, I believe that the failures of the past merely indicate our inexperience in the field. The goal of this thread is to formulate and discuss formation-based tactics for Big Gun, Fast Gun, and all other formats of R/C naval combat. Gascan and I have been developing an anti-torpedo-cruiser defensive formation over the past year. The formation is specifically intended for two small Big Gun dreadnoughts operating close to shore, but some of its concepts may be useful for other ships in other situations. Alas, most of the tactics haven't been extensively tested, since they depend on working front guns, but that situation has been resolved with this winter's refit. The basic formation is two ships in close eschelon, about 3 to 5 feet apart, with the lead ship closer to shore and the wingman further to sea. Exact distance from shore hasn't been determined yet, but for now I'm planning for the lead ship to be about 10 feet from shore This proximity to shore is important, as it both limits enemy attack options and provides several tactical opportunities. It also represents a danger, though: larger ships may be able to pin one of the ships against shore and pound it into submission. Our plan is to patrol back and forth across the shoreline, trolling for torpedo-cruisers and shooting up anything that comes near. There are several areas of our local pond that are particularly popular for torpedo attack; these are intentionally included in the patrol route. Our goal is to present as inviting a target as possible. Our VUs, while not particularly vulnerable to torpedoes, are fairly small and have been sunk or nearly sunk by torpedoes several times in the past; the torpedo-cruiser skippers know this and will hopefully be unable to resist such inviting targets. The real trick behind the formation is what happens when a torpedo-cruiser comes in on the attack. Once the cruiser is committed to its attack, we can break formation with any of several pre-planned maneuvers that threaten horrible consequences for the cruiser. 1) Wingman, seaward side, astern or abeam: The wingman breaks away from the torpedo-cruiser and towards shore in the usual anti-torpedo response, hopefully spoiling the attacker's aim while returning fire. The leader continues on, then pounds the attacker with six barrels of sinkage and blastruction from stern guns as it crosses the line of fire. Both ships may resume formation afterwards or engage at will, as the situation calls. 2) Wingman, landward side, astern or abeam: The wingman continues forward and returns fire while the leader turns away from shore and towards the wingman. The torpedo-cruiser has an easier shot, but both battleships have easier shots as well. And if all goes well, the cruiser may be forced to escape with reverse, sailing through both ships stern cannons as well. 3) Leader, seaward side, astern or abeam: The wingman shoots the cruiser on its way in, and turns towards the leader. Against a maneuverable cruiser, leader brakes to spoil its shot and returns fire, trying to sandwich the cruiser against the wingman. Against an un-maneuverable cruiser, leader pulls a U-turn and tries to force the cruiser into shore, while the wingman either physically blocks the cruiser's retreat or lines up for stern gun bombardment. 4) Leader, landward side, astern or abeam: both leader and wingman turn towards shore, forcing the cruiser towards shore as well. The wingman can either shoot the cruiser or physically block it if it tries to reverse, and the leader can shoot as it drives towards shore. 5) Wingman, head-on: Wingman turns towards shore, forcing the cruiser to attack its seaward side. Both battleships get front-gun shots on the torpedo-cruiser, and the wingman may get a stern gun shot, as well. Head-on attacks are hard to respond to, though, due to the speed of closing. 6) Leader, head-on: Both leader and wingman turn towards shore, forcing the cruiser to attack the seaward side. Both battleships get front-gun shots on the torpedo-cruiser, and the wingman may get a stern gun shot, as well. Again, head-on attacks are hard to spot and respond to due to the high closing speed, so I am not expecting to see this formation very often. We're still thinking up maneuvers to counter larger battleships, but the basic anti-torpedoboat tactic is complete. As you can see, some of the specific maneuvers are designed to use the nearby shoreline and/or other terrain as a trap. The appropriate distance from shore needed to pull off such maneuvers hasn't been determined yet. By staying close to shore, also, it is easier for Gascan and I to see our guns' elevation and aim, and make our few shots count. Of course, that means attackers can also shoot better, but we can afford to swap hole-for-hole with three torpedo-cruisers and still win.
I have always loved formations and teamwork. From your postion on shore it is hard to control the ships but it is still possible. In my persepctive one formation would work against lets say a Bismark or Yamato or even the Iowa. Take two small destroyers, light cruisers, or even transport ships attacking or fleeing from the Bismark. The Bismark can just sit their and blow them to shreds if they are making just a beeline. If they had say done an old trick by looping in an out it will make it nearly impossible for the Bismark the aim and fire. It would have to give chase and try to get a chance of a good hit. And it is not like it is a real battleship where 1 hit will severly damage or sink them. They have a 70% of escaping unharmed.
So, here's a few tactics ideas that wouldn't be too tough. Take three ships with either a forward facing side mount or a swiveling gun and put them in a V-Formation. Maintaining somewhat of a quick pace, they would flank a single ship and basically be putting holes in it in 3 different locations at once. But, be sure to pull away before you hit the boat.
As mentioned in the OP, traditional naval manoeuvres do not work in this sport. Our shells (ball bearings) do not explode.....however our style of fighting is actually more aligned with that of WWII aerial combat. Think of it as the flight leader and the wing man. Two ships working together to both protect each other and to attack opponents are a formidable combination. When...not if...but when they get a single ship between them then that ship is sunk. In SCBG we called it the "COOKIE". The enemy ship become the cream filling. At best it can only inflect damage on one ship whilst two ships are inflecting maximum damage on the center filling....OUCH!! Trust me this works.
To avoid this, I would suggest to put two bigger boats nearby. If the VUs are engaged by a big thing, the far coverage could sandwich the attacker. In case of a double attack on both the VUs and their coverage (eg. a Baden and a big (WWII)Scharnhorst), the Scharnie takes care of the attack and the Baden helps the VUs.
I have a friend and he and I have created an untested kind of isolate and kill anti convoy formation with two heavy cruisers Disclaimer: It may not work First ship run past prey's bow and makes other maneuvers to isolate prey ship Second ship passes starboard of the prey and fires in opposite direction of prey, loops around and repeats on the port etc. First ship runs wider circles around second ship, also firing occasionally and watches second ships back If battleships come, have a) a team member help the first ship fight it off b) abort convoy and attack battleship with two cruisers THIS IS OLD!!!! I WAS IN 7th GRADE!!!!! DON'T LISTEN TO THIS!!
Hello Nibbles 1, You and your friend should attend a local club event and see combat first hand. Some clubs have boats you can use and maybe try your tactics on your intended prey.
