Raking Fire
- Tactic
- 1 min
By Crusader1307
The term ''Raking Fire'' was an 18th and 19th Century Naval warfare tactic, by which a similar used tactic known as The broadside, was brought to bear – not against an Enemy side or flank, but to a smaller area of targeting, such as The Bow or Stern. While it limited the used of Ship Guns to Center Decks (midship), it concentrated fire in such a way as to destroy an Enemies ability to steer by destroying it's Steerage (Rudder). While this modified Broadside did little damage to the Ships width, it did allow for a Shell to travel farther (along the length). Countered by outrunning (speed) from a potential use, this required One to Not veer to far to flank, lest the Enemy could bring to bear the ''unused'' cannon to the left or right of the Center Batteries. Used with effectiveness by The British Navy at The Napoleonic War Battle of Trafalgar (1805), Raking Fire is very similar to both the much later ''Crossing The T'' tactic and The Enfilade. It's use is not seen today due to the advent of Missile (distance) Targeting and of course Submarine Warfare.
