Naval BATTLE, the same with a sea-fight, or engagement between two fleets of men of war.
Before a naval battle, every squadron usually subdivides itself into three equal divisions, with a reserve of certain ships out of every squadron to bring up their rear. Every one of these, observing a due birth and distance, are in the battle to second one another; and the better to avoid confusion and falling foul of each other, to charge, discharge, and fall off, by threes or fives, more or less, as the fleet is greater or smaller. The ships of reserve are instructed either to succour and relieve those that are any way in danger; or to supply, and put themselves in the place of those that shall be made unserviceable.
As for a fleet consisting but of few ships, when obliged to fight in an open sea, it should be brought up to battle in only one front, with the chief admiral in the middle of them, and on each side of him the strongest and best provided ships of the fleet.