her, she steams at full speed; three steams at full speed when two bears N. E. from her, and so on to the last vessel.

Echelon of vessels, from the left, may be formed according to the same principles, upon the signal: From the left of fleet, form echelon of vessels.

2d Method.

Form the fleet into column of vessels, from the right or left, to the N.E., S.W., N.W., or S.E.; then signal N., and the manœuvre is completed.*

83. The fleet being in line, heading N., to form it into echelon of vessels, on the starboard or port bow or quarter.

24

FIG. 113.

1

24

To form it on the starboard bow, the commander-in-chief makes signal:

N. Et

* See diagram. In this case, of course, the line of bearing will be N. E. and S. W., but if formed from the left, it would be N.W. and S. E.

It is very necessary here that the vessels shall describe equal arcs in turning.

Which is repeated by the divisional command

ers.

The vessels alter course together to N.E., and are in echelon on a line of bearing E. and W.

To form the fleet into echelon on the starboard quarter, the commander-in-chief first forms it into columns of vessels to the right (as in 10, Fig. 35), and then into echelon by signalling a course to starboard, forming an angle of 45° with the column. In this case the course signalled would be S.E., the line of bearing remaining E. and W.

Inversely, the fleet may be formed into echelon on the port bow or quarter, according to the same principles.

84. The fleet being in line, to form it into echelon of vessels on any course whatever.

Form it into column of vessels, from the right or left, on what is to be its line of bearing when in echelon; then signal the course to be steered, and the manœuvre is completed. Suppose, for example, the fleet to be in line, steering N., and it be required to form it into echelon of vessels heading E.N.E.

FIG. 114.

The commander-in-chief forms the fleet into column of vessels, from the right or left, to the N.N.E., and then signals E.N.E., and the fleet is in echelon on the line of bearing N.N.E. and S.S.W., as shown by A.

Or he may form it into column of vessels, from the right or left to the E.S.E., and signal E.N.E., and the fleet will be in echelon on the line of bearing E.S.E. and W.N.W. (See B.) *

Or into column of vessels to the W.N.W., then into line to the N.N.E., and finally make signal E.N.E., and the fleet will be in echelon on the line of bearing W.N.W. and E.S.E. (See C.)

Or into column of vessels to the S.S. W., then into line to the E.S.E., and finally make signal E.N.E., and the fleet will be in echelon on the line of bearing S.S.W. and N.N.E. (See D.)

85 The fleet being in line, to form it into echelons of vessels, from the right of divisions, preserving the original direction.

The commander-in-chief makes signal: From the right of divisions, form echelons of vessels.

Divisional commanders signal: Division-from the right, form echelon of vessels.

The vessels on the right of divisions continue onward at full speed; the other vessels slow to steerage-way. When two, ten, and eighteen find one, nine, and seventeen bearing N.E. from them respectively, they go ahead at full speed, and so on to the last vessels.

Echelons of vessels, from the left of divisions, may be formed according to the same principles.

2d Method.

Form the divisions into columns of vessels, "from the right or left, to the N.E. or N.W.; then signal N., and the manœuvre is completed.

86. The fleet being in line, to form it into echelons of vessels, from the right or left of divisions, on any course whatever.

Form the fleet into columns of vessels, from the right or left, at right angles to the course which the vessels are to steer when in echelon; next into line by signalling this course, and then form the divisions into echelons of vessels, as in 85

Suppose, for example, the fleet to be in line, steering N., and it be required to form its divisions into echelons of vessels heading S.E.