Re: Search for historical presence: Small vessels and the Wall or Line of Battle

Why is it that space battles are always thought of in terms of naval
action
and not air force action? (Including me) Are we all firmly entombed
inside
a box that has been built by popular Sci Fi? Heck if anything the Air
Force
is the organizatuion that has it's hands buried firmly within the
aerospace
realm and no doubt with all the political squabbles for control that
will
arise when the armed services go to space for real, they may have an
upper
hand in ensuring that they are controlling things.

Just curious.

Also I agree with Tom. What differnce does it make if there is a wet
navy
precedent or not to smaller units in major actions? (I know it's
interesting) There have been plenty of battles fought in FT by everyone
here. Since that's the medium we use to decide the contest I would
accept
that experience along those lines before naval action experience.

And with that said, Kr'rt and I fought a 100+ ship major fleet battle
(took
all day), and IMO it was the smaller units that were absolutely vital in
that action since the big units pretty much just stayed ethir and
slugged
it out with each other for the whole battle, the DDs, fighters and
whatnot
were eth ones that go in (virtually ignored by teh big ships who were
fixated on eachotehr) and knifed everyone in the back with missles and
Torps.

Jerry Han wrote:

> Thomas Barclay wrote:
> >
> > As part of an on-going discussion of the efficacy of smaller units
> > (DDs, FFs) at a Wall of Battle meeting, I am searching for
historical
> > antecedents to this type of action.
>
> [MUNCH]
>
> > So if anyone has any historical anecdotes or references to support
or
> > disprove either viewpoint (bring the popcorn/send it away), I'd be
> > most interested to hear it. And of course, feedback, argument,
> > discourse and such are welcome as well.
>
> Actually, I'm not sure naval history is a good analogy in this
> case.  One of the major reasons NOT to bring your escorts in was that
> their weaponry couldn't hurt battleships/battlecruisers.  3"/5" rapid
> fire cannon just doesn't cut it against 16" of armour belt.  (Ignoring
> 'special purpose' weapons like torpedoes.)
>
> However, the FB Class-1 bat can hurt even the largest SDN.  There's
> still the range difference to worry about between a Class-1 and a
> Class-3, but you know there's a chance to score significant damage
with
> a whole bunch of Class-1's, quite unlike the almost guaranteed
> bounces you'll get versus the armour belt.  That's what makes swarm
> tactics so dangerous in FT.
>
> Just some ideas.
>
> J.
> --
>      *** Jerry Han - jhan@icom.ca - http://people.canoe.ca/jhan ***
>	   "I wish I could fly, From this building, From this wall,
>	     And if I should try, Would you catch me If I fall?"
>			Barenaked Ladies - TBFTGOGGI