Radio and the transition in fleet command

Radio was becoming widespread, but fleet command through radio still suffered technical and organisational difficulties. Centralised methods inherited from the age of sail helped ships maintain a line of battle and coordinate movements before contact. Captains then had to act when the planned arrangement broke down. Longer weapon ranges and salvo fire encouraged fleets to remain together, creating new demands on coordination and fire control. Different navies approached similar problems from different directions. Their uneven progress involved successful ideas and failed experiments.