82 THE TACTICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT CLASSES 



when these weapons are of an auxiliary character it becomes of great importance to weigh 

 carefully how far a sacrifice of any vital characteristics should be tolerated. 



The battleship is the purest type of naval vessel, and the principles of the embodiment in 

 its design of its tactical relations to other classes are more simple than in other cases. As 

 the possible missions of ships increase, more and more weapons suggest themselves as desir- 

 able, with resultant complications in determining upon the design. The author has spoken 

 of the gun, the torpedo and the bomb, and in addition tlie mine and the depth charge must 

 also be considered, for in some types these weapons are a most important, if not primary, 

 feature of the armainent and exercise their natural influence upon design. 



The President: — Is there any other discussion I think that this paper presents, in 

 most admirable form, tactical considerations involved in warship design. It is the sort of 

 paper that is not likely to provoke impromptu discussion. It is quite possible, however, that 

 there may be those who desire to submit written comment later on. If such should be the 

 case, I take it for granted that the Society will follow its usual custom in permitting such 

 discussion to be passed upon by the Executive Committee and incorporated in the proceedings. 



Rear Admiral W. A. Moffet, U. S. Navy (Communicated) : — The paper prepared 

 by Admiral W. L. Rodgers is one of the best of its kind that I have ever read. It presents 

 the situation concisely, it states clearly the essential factors entering into sea power, and in 

 such a way that no one can fail to understand. 



The present position and possibilities of aviation are well stated, although it is probable 

 that even the admiral does not appreciate its far-reaching possibilities and effects. Specific 

 mention is not made of the design of aircraft carriers, which may be so designed as to make 

 them fully as formidable as battle cruisers and battleships. 



It is believed that the time will come when the battleship and carrier will be merged 

 into one, and the battleship of the near future may be a ship carrying a few of the largest 

 practicable caliber guns with a great many planes of all types. 



It would be a great advantage to the country if this paper could be given the widest cir- 

 culation possible. 



Rear Admiral Rodgers (Communicated) : — This paper was written with a view to 

 suggesting to engineers that the fundamental engineering principles of force and time oper- 

 ating against resistance to produce useful work are also involved in the fundamental prin- 

 ciples of military and naval tactics where the work done is that of destruction. 



The destructive forces of warfare, like all other forces, need time for them to do a given 

 amount of work. But the destructive forces can be destroyed only by counter-destructive 

 forces. The passive elements of defense (or resistance) serve only to secure time for the 

 attacking forces to do an appreciable amount of work. Passive defense alone may some- 

 times deny victory to the enemy, but even this half success is possible only when the defense 

 secures more time than the enemy has available for the accomplishment of his task. Pas- 

 sive defense never secures complete victory. 



Thus in ship design we classify our ships into two main classes, the "strength" ships 

 combining force to overcome the enemy with protection to secure time to exert that force, and 

 "speed" ships whose attack is comparatively light in force, but either so quickly delivered or 

 from so favorable a point that the enemy lacks time to develop his resistance and so to 

 absorb the attack. 



