- Fleet action
A fleet action is a naval engagement involving
combat between forces that are larger than a squadron on either of the opposing sides. Fleet action is defined bycombat and not just manoeuvring of the naval forces strategically, operationally or tactically without engaging. Most famous large naval battles in history were fleet actions. A fleet action is unrelated to participation of any formation that is a namednaval fleet , and usually includes only major parts of such formations.A "general fleet action" has been defined as one
aimed to destroy, incapacitate or capture the enemy's main body and thereby accomplish the principal strategic objective of the war at sea. [p.147, Vego]
TheBattle of Jutland , although consisting of several smaller battles and engagements, came closest to what was considered a general fleet action in the late "long" 19th century. [p.150, Vego]As an example of fleet action orders, the following were issued by Admiral Spruance commanding United States Fifth Fleet at 1415 on 17 June 1944:
Our air will first knock out enemy carriers, then will attack enemy battleships and cruisers to slow or disable them. Battle line will destroy enemy fleet either by "fleet action" if the enemy elects to fight or by sinking slowed or crippled ships if enemy retreats. Action against the enemy must be pushed vigorously by all hands to ensure complete destruction of his fleet. Destroyers running short of fuel may be returned to Saipan if necessary for refuelling. [p.243, Morison]
In naval history a fleet action has usually been seen as not just another
naval battle , but thedecisive battle of a given theatre of war that brings about a drastic change in the naval balance of power. Thebattle of Leyte Gulf is considered the last ever surface battle fleet action in history, and one in which the Allied forces completely destroyed the Japanese fleet, which lost threebattleship s (including the Yamato), all fouraircraft carrier s, sixcruiser s, and more than a dozendestroyer s.ee also
*
List of naval battles Citations and notes
References
* Vego, Milan N., "Naval Strategy and Operations in Narrow Seas", Routledge, 2003
* Morison, Samuel Eliot, "History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: The Battle of the Atlantic, September 1939 - May 1943", University of Illinois Press, Chicago, 2001
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