Small-boat fighting resembled an aircraft dogfight. The craft maneuvered rapidly, had little armor, and could not absorb repeated hits, so firing first carried exceptional weight. One Dog Boat officer preferred engagement ranges of no more than thirty feet. Radar could guide the boat toward an unseen opponent, but the weapons still rewarded closing until human aim and volume of fire became decisive.
Notable Point · 2:34:47-2:35:38
Small-boat combat resembled an aircraft dogfight
Fast turns, fragile hulls, and extremely short firing ranges made coastal actions resemble fighter combat more than battleship gunnery.