Bikerdude999, many thanks for that suggestion.
It has already been thoroughly investigated and tested. And, unfortunately, it doesn't quite work.
A (highly qualified) colleague of mine tested this theory in depth and discovered that the current required to keep all three vessels alongside each other was too much with regards power to weight ratio, also, the thickness of metal required on the destroyers was probably too much for reliable stability.
Furthermore, when he measured the break-off switching at the electro magnets, there was a slight time-lag, enough to cause problems if OHIO decided to sink lower than the gunwhales, thereby pulling the attendant destroyers down with it.
(Much tears at bedtime).
So we researched this method and came back to the original "outrigger" set up, so, with low astern revs on OHIO, the two destroyers could effectively steer OHIO into "Grand Harbour". If OHIO decided to misbehave at any stage, then this set up allowed for instantaeneous breakaway.
That being said, very many thanks for submitting that idea, it is perfectly rational and at least, on the face of it, eminently plausible.
Yarpie.