In the second case, that of turning away, the object is to place the ships at such a distance from the attacking destroyers that the torpedoes will not cross their tracks, but if this object is not achieved the ships are in a good position for avoiding the torpedoes if their tracks are visible; the objection to this manœuvre is that the range of the enemy’s battle line is necessarily opened.
It was my intention in a Fleet action to use one or other of the manœuvres should destroyer attacks take place under conditions which prevented an effective “counter” by our own light craft; both manœuvres were arranged to be carried out “by subdivisions” as a turn by divisions of four ships would delay the completion of the manœuvre to too great an extent.
The Grand Fleet Battle Orders contained a great deal in the way of discussion and instructions on the subject of torpedo attack in a Fleet action. The duties of light cruisers and destroyers in this connection were dealt with at considerable length, and stress was laid on the supreme importance both of making early torpedo attacks on the enemy’s line and of immediately countering such attacks, and it was pointed out that an early attack by our own destroyers would not only tend to stop an enemy attack, but would place our attacking vessels in the best position to meet a hostile attack.
The battle stations of both light cruisers and destroyers were so fixed that they should be in the best positions to effect these two objects, such positions being obviously in the van of the Fleet; in order to provide against a 16-point turn on the part of the enemy, or deployment in the opposite direction to that anticipated, one or two flotillas, according to the numbers available, and a light cruiser squadron, were also stationed in the rear.
The probable tactics of the German Fleet had been a matter of almost daily consideration, and all our experience and thought led to the same conclusion, namely, that retiring tactics, combined with destroyer attacks, would be adopted by them. There were many reasons for this belief, and some of them were as follows:
1. On each occasion when German vessels were met, they had immediately retired towards their bases.
2. The tactical advantages of such a move were obvious. They might be enumerated thus:
(a) The retiring fleet places itself in a position of advantage in regard to torpedo attack on the following fleet. The retiring fleet also eliminates, to a large extent, danger of torpedo attack by the following fleet.
(b) Opportunity is afforded the retiring fleet of drawing its opponent over a mine or submarine trap.
(c) Smoke screens can be used with effect to interfere with the observation of gunfire by the following fleet.