[Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816 by Julian S. Corbett]@TWC D-Link book
Fighting Instructions, 1530-1816

PART IX
126/182

Then, after stating broadly that he means with the van or weather division to attack the van of the enemy, while the lee or larboard division simultaneously attacks the rear, he differentiates like Nelson between a weather and a lee attack.

For the attack from to-windward he directs the two divisions to run down in line abreast in such a way that they will come into action together in a line parallel to the enemy; but, whatever he intended, nothing is said about concentrating on any part of the enemy, or about breaking the line in all parts or otherwise.
The attack from to-leeward is to be made perpendicularly in line ahead.

In this formation his own (the weather column) is to break the line, so as to cut off the van quarter of the enemy's line from the other three quarters, and the lee column is to sever this part of the enemy's line a few ships in rear of their centre.

So soon as the leading ships have passed through and so weathered the enemy, they are to keep away and lead down his line so as to engage the rear three fourths to windward.

This is of course practically identical with the lee attack of Nelson's memorandum.


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