Q&A ยท 19:12-19:25

What did warships practise besides gunnery?

They also had to practise manoeuvring as a fleet, which required coordinated shiphandling and crews who knew exactly what to do.

Question

What were warships doing besides gunnery practice if their gunnery was not very good?

Short answer

They also had to practise manoeuvring as a fleet, which required coordinated shiphandling and crews who knew exactly what to do.

Notes

Manoeuvring a battle fleet took substantial practice even when its gunnery still needed improvement. Destroyers had to maintain their screens and change position as the capital ships formed a battle line. Nearby dreadnoughts made errors in those movements dangerous. Coordinating these movements required skill and many people who knew exactly what to do.