Close action changes the value of firing arcs

The argument becomes more conditional when it moves to smaller, more manoeuvrable ships. Light cruisers and destroyers are treated as melee ships expected to fight in confused, rapidly changing close action. A two-forward, one-aft arrangement like that discussed for the Arethusa class preserves stronger forward fire while retaining a weapon astern. By contrast, a two-aft design encourages a commander to expose the stern when engaging with most of the battery. At close range an opponent can deliberately aim low around the propeller shafts, so protecting propulsion changes the value of each firing arc.