Newbie questions about using the Navy

[Drakken]

I'm currently playing against the AI as the Western Entente, trying this game out, but I am confused about how best to using the Navy. I have a few basic questions a few questions about how to use my Navy assets :

a) I understand that I should be sending my Transports and my Subs to Shipping boxes used by Central Powers, and some big vessels squadrons into my Blockade boxes. Right? Does Germany have ships in the Atlantic Shipping Box?

b) Currently in my game, France is alone against Germany (AI went for the Kaiser plan). Thus while I work the UK diplomatically toward was I can only rely on my Navy assets. Should I be sending my whole Mediteranean big-gun fleet to the Med Blockade A-H, and my whole Atlantic Fleet in the Atlantic Blockade box? Should I be splitting it to keep some assets in port and rotate them? Should I be sending Navy units that are not assigned to Blockade boxes to patrol the coast?

c) What are the use of the different Navy types in the game? Dreadnoughts, battleships and battlecruisers I understand, these are for the big gun battles and blockade duties. But what about cruisers? Destroyers? Screening? Minesweepers and minelayers?

So many questions... I admit that the Navy part is not well explained, and is the part of the game I understand the least.

Thanks!

[Durk]

I am not your best adviser on these topics, so maybe someone with a clearer understanding will jump into the discussion but:

a) Transports you can use in shipping lanes, but I tend to keep them with battle fleets so they are available for a naval raid. Subs, yes send into the shipping lanes as the Central Powers. You do need some big vessels in the Blockade Boxes. Use the number in the box as a guide to how many ships. German should only have ships in the shipping boxes when on raids.

b) Probably do not send the whole fleet. Depending upon the naval setting you use in the options box, you may want to send no more than half your fleet into the Blockade boxes. This lets the other half rest and resupply. They are available for emergencies and to relieve the other fleet when you bring it in to replenish.
Patrols can be useful.

c) You need to attach cruisers and destroyers to your major ships. But some for escorts of troop ships and scouting makes sense. As you start with pretty decent mine fields, your mine sweepers are going to be useful when you decide to do an amphibious assault.

The possibilities are too great to be explained in a manual. Try some different things in mini-scenarios you create. Back up the turn, try something else.

[Lord Nelson]

I keep the Grand Fleet and Beatty's Battlecruisers in port, and use a couple squadrons of armored cruisers and pre-dreadnoughts in the blockade box.