Leading with Escorts (was Directional screens (armor dropped))

Jared wrote:
> Yet if you look at enough FT games you will see a few ideas similar to
the
> echelon concepts---Multiple waves - smallest in front where the
> enemy has to
> deal with them because of the large damage they can do if
> ignored, while heavies
> in back where they can continue to hurt you with the bigger guns.

But now your smallest, unscreened ships are in front and are prime
targets
taking all the damage and are lost quickly.  I've seen this happen too
often
lately, like at the GenCon Tourney, players leading with their escorts
only
to have them destroyed sometimes before they can even fire.  With the
same
dice rolls, less damage would have been taken if the better defended
ships
were leading.

>  How many
> people do you know who attack with their SDN and CA's in front
> while their DD's
> & FF's hold up the rear?  probably not many - as that is generally not
as
> effective as the other way round where the tin-cans can get out
> their attacks at
> closer ranges before disintegrating.

This is what Schoon did with his fleet, and he won the tourney.  Put the
best defended ships in front (who also have the longest range weapons so
they get better range bands sooner)  Your opponent has the choice of
taking
shots at a the closest ship which is well defended or taking longer
range
shots at easier to hit and destroy escorts.  Your smaller ships would
then
be used to make a sudden breakout attack exploiting a weakness in your
opponent's fleet.

Am I off base or have others seen this same thing?

I think that DDs and smaller should not be used as initial attack wave
in a
battleline type of scenario.  They should be used to finish off damaged
ships, make overwhelming attacks when the situation dictates, and keep
other
escorts from getting too close to your main ships.

Comments?  Flames?  Lets get some tactics discussion going ;)

Dean