A ship charging to ram points its bow at the enemy while the target can concentrate more guns against it. This exposure recreates the familiar problem of letting the enemy cross the T. The attacker gives up much of its own broadside and follows a predictable approach under fire. Poor gunnery accuracy was a training and command problem, not a reason to replace gunfire with collision. The same ramming mindset helps explain the pre-dreadnought and dreadnought interest in heavy forward fire for a head-on approach.
Chapter · 7:42-9:32
Ramming invites the enemy to cross the T
A ship charging bow-first to ram gives up much of its own broadside, lets the enemy cross its T, and invites concentrated gunfire.