Tactics

I had long theorized that fighting with independent squadrons would be superior to a fleet fighting in a single line. This was the tactical plan adopted by Sir David Beatty after the Battle of Jutland, when he relieved Admiral Jellicoe as Grand Fleet commander.

The Third Anglo-Dutch War seems to have particularly been fought this way. Partly, it was because of the personal conflict between Sir Edward Spragge and Cornelis Tromp. They often would go their own way, independent of the main fleets. That is not what I am advocating. Instead, I am advocating using squadrons to be able to concentrate and combine against portions of the enemy fleet. In a single line, concentration is only minimally possible (the French solution was to build heavily armed ships, and to keep close order, to obtain a pseudo-concentration).

I have also had a fascination with breaking the enemy's line, although gaming with Privateers Bounty and First Anglo-Dutch War scenarios, it is difficult to get much advantage. In my initial simulation runs, I was continually attacking with the intent of breaking the line, but with the light Dutch ships, it was difficult to maintain fighting strength at close range. The English, under AI control, would quickly pick off the Dutch by maneuvering independently and firing at close range.

Almost out of frustration, I have been reduced to maneuvering fleets as a single entity and firing at a distance. A fleet, in Privateers Bounty, seems like a blunt instrument, due to the difficulties in mantaining formation. I have found it possible to maneuver two to three squadrons.