The 10th Destroyer Flotilla moved from conventional line-ahead and staggered formations to a practiced line abreast. Jones tested several easier arrangements before accepting the night-time station-keeping burden of placing ships side by side. The formation cleared every radar set's view and brought the Tribals' heavy forward gun batteries onto the target together, while their 4-inch mounts fired star shell overhead. Approaching bow-on also narrowed the torpedo target presented to the enemy. Minimal-power radar and repeated formation practice turned an awkward maneuver into an ambush system, while the less-trained division retained line ahead because not all of its crews were ready for the new method.
Chapter · 18:39-30:21
Radar, line-abreast tactics, and the Battle of Ushant
Jones experiments with destroyer formations until a difficult line-abreast approach gives radar and forward guns the clearest night-fighting arcs.