Page "Ship of the line" Paragraph 14

In the early to mid-17th century, several navies — particulary those of England and the Netherlands — began to use new fighting techniques.

Previously battles had usually been fought by great fleets of ships closing with each other and fighting in whatever arrangement they found themselves in, and often boarding enemy vessels as opportunities to do so presented themselves.

However, the further development of guns and the adoption of broadside arrangements of guns required a change of tactics.

With the broadside the decisive weapon, tactics evolved to ensure as many ships could fire broadside as possible.

The line-of-battle tactic required ships to form long single-file lines and close with the enemy fleet on the same tack, battering the other fleet until one side had had enough and retreated.

Any manoeuvres would be carried out with the ships remaining in line for mutual protection.